Disney Allegedly Continues Politically Correct Purge With Removal of ‘The Aristocats’

The Walt Disney Company ventured into the streaming industry by launching its own service, Disney+, in 2019. In a highly competitive market, where viewers have various options like Netflix, Peacock, and Apple, Disney+ aimed to offer a unique streaming experience. However, despite being a late entrant, Disney+ lacked in its content offerings compared to its competitors.

To everyone’s surprise, Disney, led by its CEO Bob Iger, has consistently removed crucial content from the streaming platform, primarily classic Disney favorites. This move left many fans disappointed and puzzled, as these timeless movies are a significant part of the company’s legacy and have a massive following. The decision to remove such content was unexpected and has impacted the longevity of Disney+, which has become a significant, long-term focal point for the company.

New Content Versus Classics on Disney+

Disney’s latest original offerings, including the highly anticipated Loki: Season 2 (2023) and Ahsoka (2023), have undoubtedly contributed to the recent surge in subscriptions and viewership. However, it is the sense of nostalgia that holds viewers to the platform time and time again. Rediscovering beloved stories from the past offers a sense of comfort and familiarity that is hard to resist, making it a crucial factor in retaining Disney’s loyal subscriber base.

Related: Say Goodbye to Disney+ as We Know It

As the festive season approaches and families, friends, and loved ones gather around the television, the magic of Disney+ takes over. Although Disney+ has been creating new original content as part of its strategy for success, what brings people together are timeless classics like Pinocchio (1940), Robin Hood (1973), and The Aristocats (1970). These movies have stood the test of time and continue to captivate audiences of all ages with their endearing characters, heartwarming stories, and unforgettable music.

Disney Adds Content Warnings to Disney+

Disney, a renowned entertainment company, has been enjoying a remarkable surge in success with their purchased properties. Despite this, the company’s recent original content has faced some difficulties. Live-action remakes such as The Little Mermaid (2023) and Haunted Mansion (2023) have not been as well-received as their creators had hoped. Evidently, the company’s original movies, like Elemental (2022) on Disney+, have performed moderately well but not as well as their box office numbers.

Disney has been at the center of controversy due to its perceived “woke” agenda. The company, which is headquartered in the State of Florida and operates Walt Disney World, has been actively involved in social movements across the country. By promoting progressive ideas and making significant changes to its films and attractions, such as Splash Mountain, Disney is striving to keep pace with the changing values and beliefs of a constantly evolving society. Despite the backlash it has received, the company remains committed to its mission of creating an inclusive and diverse environment for all.

In an effort to challenge outdated concepts and promote inclusion, Disney has implemented content warnings in its Disney+ lineup and has even removed certain controversial content, such as Song of the South (1949), from its vault. 

Previously added to the end of films, Disney has now taken to placing a content warning at the beginning of films, like Dumbo (1941), which features a scene where a group of black crows sing “When I See an Elephants Fly.” By doing so, the company aims to acknowledge and address potentially insensitive or offensive material while also ensuring a more inclusive and respectful viewing experience for all audiences.

Related: Is a Pixar ‘Harry Potter’ Series for Disney+ Real or a Work of Magic?

Disney+ has recently taken a closer look at some of its classic films. In an effort to promote inclusivity, the streaming platform has re-evaluated the content of The Aristocats (1970), The Jungle Book (1967), Lady and the Tramp (1955), and other similar films. Despite their controversial subject matter, these films remain a significant part of Disney’s history.

By examining these films through a more modern lens, Disney hopes to spark important conversations about representation and inclusivity. The company acknowledges that some of the content in these films may be sensitive or problematic by today’s standards but still believes that they can be valuable tools for education and discussion.

The Convenience of Disney+

Disney+ is a convenient streaming option for Disney movie enthusiasts as DVDs and VHS have become obsolete. Streaming has become the new norm, and Disney has been striving to keep up with its competitors. They claim that their content warnings are meant to promote positive change through discussion. However, it’s worth questioning whether this is another way of limiting an already restricted content selection on the platform.

Disney has released further details regarding their content warnings. The clarification allows Disney to manage the public’s perception of the company and its content while still retaining classic draws for subscribers. This move is likely to enhance transparency and accountability in the entertainment industry.

Fans and Fan Sites Claim that “The Aristocats” Get the Axe From Disney+

Disney-produced products made in the past have faced criticism for their depiction of characters from different populations. For instance, Dumbo, Song of the South, and Lady and the Tramp have been called out for their harmful characterizations of certain groups. Specifically, Peter Pan (1953) has been criticized for its portrayal of Native Americans, while The Aristocats has been accused of perpetuating negative stereotypes regarding their Siamese cats. As a result, many of these older Disney productions now come with content warnings.

However, Inside the Magic, quoting a recent Reddit post, published an article stating that the popular Disney film featuring popular characters like Thomas O’Malley, Marie, Toulouse, Duchess, and Berlioz has been entirely removed from Disney+. 

Related: Disney Loses Nearly $400 Million, Backlash Continues

The Aristocats, produced by Winston Hibler Wolfgang Reitherman, tells the story of a feline family belonging to a high-class family in Paris. The kittens bump into several interesting characters along their journey after they are kidnapped by the family’s butler and abandoned. Thomas O’Malley, a street-wise alley cat, comes to the rescue of the aristocratic family of furbabies, introducing them to a brand new way of life. 

The Aristocats is a classic Disney film that has been available on Disney+ since the streaming app’s launch. The movie is a heartwarming tale of a family of aristocratic cats who get into mischief with a group of alley cats. One of the film’s highlights is its memorable soundtrack, featuring popular Disney songs like “Everybody Wants to Be a Cat,” which has become an iconic tune in its own right. Fans of all ages have loved the film for decades.

However, the Washington Informer cleared up some of Disney’s issues with the problematic film, explicitly revolving around its depiction of two oriental cats, “The Siamese cat Shun Gon is depicted as a racist caricature of East Asian peoples with exaggerated stereotypical traits such as slanted eyes and buck teeth.”

Is Aristocats Actually Gone?

The original Reddit post utilized to write the Inside the Magic article claiming that The Aristocats had been removed from Disney+ is no longer available, raising red flags regarding the claim. 

Specific titles that include content warnings from Disney have been restricted from children’s accounts for a while. However, this article claims that upon review, the film was not available on Disney+ at all, saying, “The Aristocats, Peter Pan, and Dumbo have all been removed from children’s profiles years ago, but this is a new development to see the movie missing on the regular Disney+ settings.”

Despite the claims, a quick search on Disney+ has cleared up the information, and despite what you may have heard, The Aristocats are still available, although with their content warnings.

This post is originally appeared on Disney Dining.