Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Its a complete waste of time for our children who will eventually become whining Disney adults. Potato Head survived by a thread and liberal white men working at Disneyland saved black women from the horrors of Splash Mountain-now Aladdin is racist. ', Skyhawk notes that even with disclaimers, the damage created by outdated depictions will be difficult to erase: That having been said, Im just glad that were now entering a new phase of sensitivity towards minorities and including the native people of America that is long overdue.. Reimagining the Middle East: Grassroots Movements, Arab American Heritage Month Resource Guide, wear clothing from a wide array of cultures, allegedly darkening the skin of white actors and crew, Middle Eastern critic Maha Albadrawi says. . All Rights Reserved. Guess Disney isnt that offended after all. What? pic.twitter.com/X9aGjXv97o. Many have referenced the WB. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. You are agreeing to OutKick's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, but don't worry we don't spam. There are now more opportunities for people in the United States, and elsewhere, to access regionally-produced entertainment from the Middle East. In its history, Disney has produced 56 animated movies. The line you're thinking of is "Where they cut off your ear if they don't like your face. and the story itself argue that the tale of Aladdin is inherently racist and Orientalist, and, regardless of the setting, is simply a colonial European view of the exotic East. Our job is not to get up and say, Heres a movie that you should feel guilty about for liking. But to pretend that the racism in it is not painful and acute? 2023 CNET, a Red Ventures company. The casting of Naomi Scott, who is of English and Indian descent, upset some fans and critics who believed the role should have been played by a Middle Eastern actress. At that time, it simply noted, "This program is presented as originally created. Its been revealed that theyre struggling to wrap up their months-long search because of a difficulty in finding a singing, dancing actor who is Middle Eastern or Indian to play the title role. Guiver makes points to show that Aladdin is the only character next to his Disney contemporaries who doesn't have this particular anatomy, but actually, Disney has somewhat of a reputation when . Why, on Disney plus, does aladdin have a disclaimer but not Pocahontas? Don Owens. This is pretty much the progressive movement in a nutshell. Heck if the salesman is racist, The whole cartoon is. Proponents of the film also encourage focusing on the great strides the 2019 film made in being more diverse and inclusive. 3. Jasmine's mother is barely a thought in the 1992 animated movie. Similarly, The Jungle Book has been criticized for employing some African/African-American racial stereotypes to depict a group of monkeys, even going so far as to have another character call them mangy and flea-picking, among other problematic elements. I think of Aladdin as the Robin Williams show. After the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee complained about song lyrics describing the setting in the film, Where they cut off your ear if they dont like your face, alternate lyrics were dubbed into the video and soundtrack releases. Is it inaccurate? The Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a press release earlier this week asking reviewers and critics to acknowledge that the "Aladdin myth is rooted by racism, Orientalism and. It feels sincere, and its also good business., In November 2019, when Disney launched its Disney+ streaming service, the company added content warnings ahead of its animated classics Dumbo (1941), The Jungle Book (1967) and Aladdin (1992) to warn audiences that the movies may contain outdated cultural depictions.. Besides from what I vaguely remember about Aladdin was he was a poor theif (or street rat for the non PC types) who befriended an enslaved genie and found a magic carpet ride in order to overcome evil Jafar, win the affection of a bra wearing princess, and became the king of Arabia or something. Following the Maypolice killing of George Floyd, a Black man, media companies like Sky and HBO Max have pulled content or attached warnings to prejudiced or racist material in their back catalogs, such as Gone With the Wind. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim advocacy group. Reviews have been mixed but the film has been popular, nonetheless: the. Screen capture from, In May 2019, Disney released a live-action version of. Ditch Disney plus there. It shows them speaking in an unintelligible language and repeatedly refers to them as "redskins," an offensive term. October 19, 2020 / 11:46 AM Gambling related content is not intended for anyone under the age of 21. Pocahontas was staight full of lies and racial slurs. The film and its creators refused to do the work of normalizing and humanizing people of color for American audiences. Top row shows the 1992 animated cast while below are the actors used in the 2019 live-action version of Aladdin. He's a young Middle Eastern man and a homeless orphan that . The company said that while it can't change he past, "we can acknowledge it, learn from it and move forward together.". The full cigarette scene is now there at the 24:00 mark for anybody who is curious. 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. , including Afghan payraans, Indian saris, Omani daggers, and turbans from multiple cultures. A Syrian named Hanna Diyab did apparently meet with Galland at some point, but it remains unclear how much, if any, of the story came from him. The film remains controversial to this day. While the majority of films and series that are added to Disney+ continue to be available, some titles, unfortunately, have been removed from Disney+. After Mr. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. No one thats who. Why or why not? Nobodys canceling these movies, he said. Panoramic view of Agrabah from the 2019 shows real-seeming landscape featuring buildings with Islamic architecture. Whether he is giving out comedic moments or being incredibly sincere, he is a perfect character. Twenty-seven years ago, Disneys animated version of. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Potato Head survived by a thread and liberal white men working at Disneyland saved black women from the horrors of Splash Mountain-now Aladdin is racist. Not only does Aladdin have a chance to lift a generation of actors from being type-cast as terrorists to the ranks of famous actors, but it also awakens a curiosity among audiences toward the. Those disclaimers are now gone in favor of the new message. The problems in Alladin specifically, I believe, are that an Arabic accent was used only for the villain, songs had racist lyrics, and there were very inaccurate and stereotyped portrayals of the entire setting/region. It worked. Aoki, who has worked with Disney-owned ABC in the past as a part of the Asian Pacific American Media Colation, says he has concerns that the language in the disclaimer would not be understandable to a younger audience, likely the biggest demographic for the massive Disney+ library that dates back over eight decades. ", clearly implying it's cutting off the hand. DISCLAIMER: This site is 100% for entertainment purposes only and does not involve real money betting. Sonny Skyhawk, founder of American Indians in Film and Television, tells THR thatfilms such as 1995s Pocahontas and 2013s The Lone Rangerrequire the disclaimer due to inaccuracies and insensitivity towards the Native American community. In addition to those older films, it's also included at the start of "Aladdin," the animated blockbuster from 1992. Ron Clements and John Musker, the directors of the 1992 film, that the movie was originally intended to be set in Baghdad, Iraq. Disney also puts silly, PC warning labels before much of its back catalog of films. Furthermore, these advisors helped ensure that any Arabic-language text was correctly displayed and that the setting and dress were more culturally realistic. You can follow him at GarySheffieldJr. Even real-life cities are melting pots of different languages, racial and ethnic groups, and religions, just as Agrabah is. It may contain outdated cultural depictions.. But, a completely white cast voiced the film, and the association of Arabs with violence, greed and other negative traits suggested that Hollywood was insensitive at best and xenophobic at worst. While he is technically only a sidekick character, he has a huge part to play in the film. 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I would hope that Disney would do it for all the films that might include some things that are a little outdated, says Azita Ghanizada, founder of MENA (Middle Eastern North African) Arts Advocacy Coalition. Most of the Arab characters have exaggerated facial characteristics hooked noses, glowering brows, thick lips but Aladdin and the princess look like white American teenagers. The rest of us can FF through that crap, chuckle at it and enjoy the show. For The Lone Ranger specifically,Skyhawk explained Johnny Depp taking on the role of Tonto, described as a spirit warrior from the Comanche tribe, was offensive casting resulting in an offensive character. It reads: "This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. But, he adds, with Native American actress Irene Bedard as the voice of Pocahontas in the film, some in his community might both enjoy and accept it as presented. Critics say the movie producers have used this melting pot description as an excuse to be lazier in casting. Fantasy worlds are not meant to perfectly align with real-life racial boundaries. Answer: A lot of older movies (god I hate calling movies from the 90's "older") include often passive stereotypes or themes about minority groups that while may not have been intentionally harmful, still perpetuate potentially harmful or offensive ideas about a culture or location. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. Versions of Aladdin from the 19th and well into the 20th centuries depict the main character as culturally Asian, not Arab. Here is that wording. The decision to attach this message to some animated films was met with both praise from people who viewed it as an accountability measure and criticism from those who thought its wording was. Warner Bros. featured a similar warning regarding some of its older cartoons, such as Tom & Jerry, which appeared on Amazon, according to CinemaBlend. When played on the Disney+ streaming service, films such as . It actually proves how desperate the Neo-Marxists movement is becoming; they cannot win an open, honest debate; they must invoke feelings of collective anger and mistrust to win short term victories. Non-Christian religions, the countries and . Which iirc got changed to "With winds in the east and the sun from the west, where the sand and the glass is bright". Other companies and brands, likeAunt Jemimaand Uncle Ben's, have also recently taken steps to recognize and distance themselves from racist stereotypes by changing their branding in the wake of widespread protests for racial justice in the U.S. Caitlin O'Kane is a digital content producer covering trending stories for CBS News and its good news brand, The Uplift. He also asked the producers to respect Islam and to add a humane character, Aladdins mother, an Arab woman willing to sacrifice everything for her sons happiness.. Alan Menken, famed Disney composer, discusses enduring appeal of "Aladdin." The musical visits San Jose this month, with live-action film due in May. Most people consider Aladdin to be set somewhere in the Middle East. Disney also came under fire for allegedly darkening the skin of white actors and crew members. New foreign series, such as Jinn, available now on Netflix, may also rely on fantasy or folk culture, but they provide authentic place settings and use local talent and perspectives. Growing up, I loved watching Aladdin, just like any other child that enjoyed Disney movies. Previously, Disney had the line "This program is presented as originally created. Back in 1992, Shaheen cited cable television and videocassettes as making it easy for stereotypes to travel far and wide. I assume it also has to do with being more sensitive towards muslim culture nowadays, as the last twenty years there was quite the bashing for the group as a whole. Ghanizada notes a2015 Public Policy Pollin which one-third of Republican primary voters supported bombing the fictional kingdom of Agrabah, the setting ofAladdin. Aoki believes it should specifically note what the issue of each film is, rather than offering up an ambiguous line. 4. Who should tell stories of other places? Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe. No. Bias/Anecdote: While I can't remember too much about Aladdin specifically that might call for this (the changed line about cutting off your hand during the opening theme comes to mind, but that's already been removed), the overall tone plays on a great deal of stereotype tropes for Middle-Eastern cultures that aren't really that accurate or true, or are at least heavily exaggerated. This isnt the first time that Disney has been criticised in relation to Aladdin. Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories? He says that while working with young filmmakers, he has never insisted they dont watch it or they dont appreciate it or that its wrong. But they will not stop playing Aladdin. An adamant defender of The Last Jedi and the series finale of Lost, he can be reached at sam.g@cbr.com or through his Twitter, @SamMgelman. Sky has issued a disclaimer alongside a number of its films that have 'outdated values' including the 1986 hit Aliens (pictured: Sigourney Weaver) The broadcasting giants say it is reviewing. Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe. Credit: Outnow/Alamy. , earning over $346 million in worldwide box office revenue. If you would like to comment on this story or anything else you have seen on BBC Culture, head over to ourFacebookpage or message us onTwitter. The movie follows a street urchin named Aladdin, who finds a magic lamp and genie and helps to save his city from the evil Grand Vizier. Aladdin is not an entertaining Arabian Nights fantasy as film critics would have us believe, wrote Jack Shaheen in 1992, then a professor of mass communications at Southern Illinois University, but rather a painful reminder to 3 million Americans of Arab heritage, as well as 300 million Arabs and others, that the abhorrent Arab stereotype is as ubiquitous as Aladdins lamp.. See some of the major differences between the films in this chart designed by our summer interns. Is it okay to watch a movie if it includes offensive parts? Itwould be great if Disney did it across the board for all of their older cartoons that may be a little insensitive., Guy Aoki, co-founder of the Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA), sayshe has never seen 1992sAladdinhimself, but he was friends with Don Bustany, president of the Los Angeles chapter of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and late deejay Casey Kasem, who were a part of a successful campaign to change problematic lyrics inAladdins introductory song Arabian Nights., They had meetings to talk about their concerns about how it was stereotyping Arab culture and how they wanted to get one line of the song changed, recalls Aoki. Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife and son, Biden had cancerous skin lesion removed last month, doctor says, White supremacist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes kicked out of CPAC, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Biden team readies new advisory panel ahead of expected reelection bid, At least 10 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, House Democrats unhappy with White House handling of D.C.'s new criminal code. Aladdin is one of the greatest animated movies of all time and one of the main reasons behind that is the Genie character. While the 1992 movie had all the fairy-tale elements to attract viewers adventure and intrigue, an evil villain, a plucky underdog, a forlorn princess trapped by tradition, and an array of supporting characters. How do you feel about Aladdin? The disclaimer reads: This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. The warning was crafted by Disney's advisors council, which includes representatives of the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA),Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment,Define American,Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media,GLAAD Media Institute,Hollywood, Health & Society,IllumiNative,The National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP),RespectAbility,The Science & Entertainment Exchange andTanenbaum. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. We take a look at the origins of the folktale, the previous dramatic portrayals of the story, the 1992 animated film, and how the filmmakers tried to overcome past controversy in the latest rendition of Aladdin. And overdue., 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Boycott threatened over transgender inclusion in Hersheys Womans Day promo, Twitch star zaps herself with shock collar live for 1 million fans, gets banned, JK Rowling showing outstanding moral courage as she stands up to vile woke mob, Artist behind Obamas Hope poster, Shepard Fairey, slams cancel culture. But its good that Disney is protecting the world from what they have deemed racist Middle Eastern tropes invented by none other than people from the Middle East. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. ThePeter Panentry reads: The film portrays Native people in a stereotypical manner that reflects neither the diversity of Native peoples nor their authentic cultural traditions. To learn more about how stories have impacted society, please visitwww.disney.com/StoriesMatter. It would be helpful if they were more specific as to whats the problem because I think people can learn from this, he says. Shaheen warned that these images would perpetuate negative stereotypes that literally sustain adverse portraits across generations. He argued: There is a commanding link between make-believe aberrations and the real world, and warned of the negative portrayal of Agrabah, the films fictionalised city that he called Hollywoods fabricated Ayrabland. It appears that for some, this warning wasnt unfounded: in 2015 it was revealed that 30% of Republican voters in the US would vote in support of bombing Agrabah. The only question is how to best address this. Now only days after his death, the live-action Aladdin remake has been questioned over its casting woes. Delivered Wednesdays. The film was criticised for perpetuating Orientalist stereotypes of the Middle East and Asia. in the new adaptation. There wasnt so much a backlash for Apu, Rather a shitty Asian comic realised he would get some media attention by claiming it to be racist.Now Asians are out of a character that was a representation of their culture at the start of the simpsons show. 1. Its either that or the children are rebelling against authority. Agrabah is a made up place thats a combo of a few different cultures. Now, it admits they were not just "outdated" but "wrong" even back then and that such negative portrayals had a harmful impact in real life. Disney claimed they included white extras only in a handful of instances when it was a matter of specialty skills, safety and control, but many still criticized the company for not taking the opportunity to hire more actors and crew members of Middle Eastern and South Asian heritage. The rags-to-riches story of a street urchin named Aladdin who asks a genie in a lamp to make him a prince is a work of fantasy. Credit: Others say that accusations of racism are overwrought. Fans questioned the need to include this new character whose appearance was ultimately inconsequential and wondered why a white character had to be added to a refreshingly-multicultural film. has been questioned over its casting woes, theyre struggling to wrap up their months-long search, The American-Arab Anti Discrimination Committee saw. Others defended Scott, noting that the story includes Indian aspects, Agrabah is meant to be a melting pot of cultures, and Jasmines mother is said to be from another land, making it entirely plausible that Jasmine could be an Indian woman. Disney is the only media outlet who can show Aladdin. Nearly a year later, on Thursday, Disney said that after consulting with a council of organizations representing minorities, it's added a newdisclaimer acknowledging the "harmful impact" of racist stereotypes in some of its older films. The 1992 Disney animated film placed the story in the Middle East but the change in scenery was not necessarily based on historic or contemporary accuracy. Think thatll ever happen with divorce rates higher than ever? The original story from November 2019 detailing the original Disney+ content warning is below. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Ian Skorodin, director of strategy and outreach for the Barcid Foundation (a Native American non-profit organization), adds that it is unfortunate thatPocahontas did not receive a disclaimer. Gary Sheffield, Jr But, a completely white cast voiced the film, and the association of Arabs with violence, greed and other negative traits suggested that Hollywood was insensitive at best and xenophobic at worst. So much so that Disney+ added a warning label before the film starts. Rather than remove this content, we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversations 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. Thus, when Disney reported in 2016 that a live-action adaptation was in the works, director Guy Ritchie had to contend with the original films controversial legacy. Mena Massoud, who plays Aladdin, was born in Cairo, Naomi Scott (Jasmine) is of Anglo-Indian descent, Numan Acar (Hakim) is Turkish, and Nasim Pedrad (Dalia) and Navid Negahban (The Sultan) are Iranian. KEEP READING:Disney+ Rebrands Non-MCU Marvel Films as Marvel Legacy. Fury of the Gods Special: Shazamily Matters, The Flash Still Shows Best Look Yet at Supergirl's Costume, 25 Years Ago, Michelle Yeoh Starred in James Bond's Most Underrated Movie, 10 Actors Who Have What It Takes To Play Superman In The New DCU. Friendly reminder that all top level comments must: start with "answer:" (or "question:" if you have an on-topic follow up question to ask). 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. Given that is fictional, whos to say it cant include many different races and ethnic backgrounds? Background characters wear clothing from a wide array of cultures, including Afghan payraans, Indian saris, Omani daggers, and turbans from multiple cultures. ", The movies that will now start with the disclaimer include "Aristocats," which features racist caricatures of East Asian peoples; "Dumbo," in which the crow characters perform a musical number in the style of racist minstrel shows; "Peter Pan," for its stereotypical portrayal of Native peoples; and "Swiss Family Robinson," in which pirates are portrayed as a stereotypical foreign menace, many in "yellow face" or "brown face.". Makes me think Disney is putting warnings out there so people buy their movies before they go back to retiring movies for a year or two to create demand curves for their products. No plug forthcoming. Jinns Lebanese director Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya has said, this is a great opportunity to portray Arab youth in a very unique way. Twenty-seven years ago, Disneys animated version of Aladdin was the highest-grossing film of 1992, earning over $346 million in worldwide box office revenue. Abby Monteil. You know, I actually dont mind this in one respect for now; it gives the reactionary, mob something to point at as evidence they are doing something to educate. For instance, there are racist caricatures in "Dumbo" and . The decision to introduce the disclaimer came after a consultation with a group of independent experts, who review how media portrays underrepresented groups and advocate for more thoughtful solutions. alternate lyrics were dubbed into the video and soundtrack releases. But it's not as innocent as it seems. This applies to classics such as Dumbo and Aladdin, which may not be suitable for younger audiences. The Middle East has a robust entertainment industry and creative voices in the region regularly share their stories through film, television, music and other media forms. Jungle Bookreceived a disclaimer, yet its 2003 animated sequel did not. BBC did an article discussing it a few years ago when the remake was being talked about that might point to some examples where it's coming from. Aladdin(1992), which previously did not have a warning, has been added to the list. Jennifer Bisset is a Senior Editor for CNET. To learn more about how stories have impacted society visit Disney.com/storiesmatter, First off, when did Disney suddenly become a Civil Rights movement? That is even more important in an era of mass media, all-you-can-watch online streaming. Potato Head survived by a thread and liberal white men working at Disneyland saved black women from the horrors of Splash Mountainnow Aladdin is racist. The level of authenticity Netflix is trying to achieve with this show is definitely what attracted me the most to be part of this project..
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