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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World

Disney updates racism warning on Peter Pan and Jungle Book over 'outdated cultural depictions'

Disney has warned of 'outdated cultural depictions' in films such as Jungle Book (Picture: Disney )

Disney has updated its advisory notice over "outdated cultural depictions" in films such as Jungle Book, Dumbo and Peter Pan.

The entertainment giant introduced the advisory notice on films last year, but the message has now been updated with further explanation as to why the films remain on the Disney+ streaming service.

The warning message states: "This programme includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures.

"These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now."

Peter Pan features characters who are referred to as 'Indians' (Disney)

The message adds that Disney hopes to acknowledge the film's "harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together."

Films such as The Aristocats which shows a cat in "yellow face" playing the piano with chopsticks, also carry the advisory notice.

Disney's Peter Pan has faced controversy for its portrayal of Native Americans.

Disney's Dumbo also features the advisory notice

The 1953 animated film features characters who are called the offensive term “Indians” and are reffered to by the racist slur "redskins".

These characters also speak in broken English while a song from the movie, What Made the Red Man Red?, has also been criticised.

Pocahontas, the 1995 film loosely based on the life of the Native American woman, has been accused by some of whitewashing a brutal past.

It comes after Disney's depiction of minority groups came under fresh scrutiny during the Black Lives Matter protests this summer.

Disney previously announced its Splash Mountain theme park ride would be “completely reimagined,” following an outcry over its links to the 1946 film Song Of The South, which is widely considered racist.

The Evening Standard has approached Disney for a comment.

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