Disney+ to Change Content Warnings Ahead of ‘Dumbo,’ ‘Peter Pan’ and More Old Movies Amid DEI Strategy Shift

variety.com:

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer Disney is adjusting the content warnings ahead of some of its old movies, including “Peter Pan” and “Dumbo,” amid an overall shift in DEI strategy at the company following President Donald Trump taking office again.

As first reported by Axios and confirmed by Variety, Disney is changing the disclaimer that autoplays before these titles. The previous version noted that the film “includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of peoples or cultures,” while the new version reads: “This program is presented as originally created and may contain stereotypes or negative depictions.” In November 2019, Disney first added content warnings to movies such as “Dumbo” due to racist depictions found in the films created by Disney in the 1940s and ’50s. “This program is presented as originally created,” the warning previously said. “It may contain outdated cultural depictions.” Disney changed the wording in October 2020 to the longer content warning: “This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures.

These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. Rather than remove this content, we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together.

Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe.” Now it has reverted the content warning back to a version of the one inserted in 2019.