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

posted 8 days ago by Satan2016 (26173)
28 replies | jump to latest

https://variety.com/2025/film/news/disney-changes-content-warnings-dei-strategy-shift-1236304091/

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 “It may contain outdated cultural depictions.”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.

Disney’s chief human resources officer Sonia Coleman outlined changes to the company’s DEI efforts in a memo to leadership Tuesday. [In article]

[–] capuchin (3358) 8 days ago

I'm in favour of content warnings so that consumers can make informed choices about what they watch.

But the 2019 version seems entirely sufficient to me; the 2020 version is just self-congratulatory corporate back-slapping and comes across as insincere anyway: 'Disney is committed to... blah blah blah.' No-one needs a company mission statement every time they watch a film.

[–] KiwiJim (1760) 8 days ago

“I'm in favour of content warnings so that consumers can make informed choices about what they watch.”

I’m not.

When did we start needing a regulatory body to decide how we view art? I have seen countless things in movies I don’t personally agree with and if anything they have only solidified my idea of right and wrong.

Erase the past or spoon feed it to people with trigger warnings and there’s no hope of us being better.

[–] FootOfDavros (8690) 7 days ago

When did we start needing a regulatory body to decide how we view art?

When we decided to start streaming instead of purchasing / owning the piece of art we are interested in.

[–] diezman (2238) 6 days ago

Well said!

[–] ShogunofYonkers (78490) 8 days ago

Pretty silly to apologize and beg forgiveness for entertainment from 80 years ago. The Klan and segregation were pretty big back then and that’s not the case anymore.

Move along complainers.

[–] BobbyNiner (548) 8 days ago

I'm not in favor of any content warnings whatsoever. get the hell over it.

[–] FredBurroughs (22247) 8 days ago

This appears to be a minor tweaking of a disclaimer that was already in place.

But let's hear more from the reactionaries who barely read entire headlines let alone the articles that follow them.

[–] BeaSouth (3555) 6 days ago

[deleted]

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7964) 8 days ago

They added them to every old show and movie. It was dumb. They even put one before the Muppet Show. If you find the Muppet Show offensive you should not be allowed to watch anything ever.

[–] Melton (5517) 8 days ago

They’ve got this ass-backwards.

There should be zero warnings on their classic stuff. The only content warnings should be on their shitty woke output for the last few years - ‘Features creepy woke indoctrination attempts such as forced gay kisses in a children’s film’

‘Contains terrible writing due to DEI hiring practices’

‘Contains obnoxious warnings like this’

[–] Keelai (36078) 7 days ago

Walt Disney was a Nazi-sympathizer. Disney films were extremely racist and misogynistic when I was growing up.

Many of the younger generations don't want to watch the bigoted old films and series. I can't blame them.

The less wordy message is better only because it gets to the point faster. Most people weren't going to read the longer message.

[–] AndyKing1967 (39757) 7 days ago

I’m happy to reach my own conclusions and don’t require a content warning.

[–] capuchin (3358) 7 days ago

I don't either. I don't even clock the ratings of films, let alone look at the additional information / warnings. Well, except when I see them in the corner of my eye and say 'Ooooh, nudity and graphic violence. Good-o.'

But they're clearly useful to some people and they don't inconvenience me, so I'm perfectly happy for them to exist.

[–] Furienna (3375) 6 days ago

It is really annoying that you can't skip them though.

[–] capuchin (3358) 6 days ago

They don't bother me. I barely notice them.

But there should probably be an option to disable the feature for people who prefer to go into things completely blind.

They're good for the people who make use of them and I've no problem with that; but for those of us who don't... yeah, the ability to turn them off would probably be a nice compromise.

[–] AndyKing1967 (39757) 6 days ago

Aren’t they technically spoilers?

[–] capuchin (3358) 6 days ago

Maybe. You could certainly look at it that way. For me, they're advertising: 'Contains scenes that some viewers may find disturbing.'

YES!!!