The Walt Disney Company has once again found itself in a no-win situation. After donating $1 million to the Magen David Adom, an affiliate of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and another $1 million to nonprofit agencies working in the area to protect children, it appeared that Disney had found some middle ground.
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Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a press release:
In the wake of the horrific terrorist attacks targeting Jews in Israel this past weekend, we must all do what we can to support the innocent people experiencing so much pain, violence, and uncertainty—particularly children. We condemn these attacks, the hate that motivated them, and all acts of terrorism, and we will continue working to find more ways to provide support in the region, and to honor the victims, their families, and all those affected by this war.
But, like many other people who have tried to find some middle ground in this conflict, Disney ended up angering those who are pro-Palestinian for not offering direct aid to those children suffering in Gaza. A groundswell started online, calling for a boycott of Disney, with one user telling his followers to “pirate all of Disney’s movies so not a penny makes it to the studio.”
Related: Twelve-Year-Old Israeli ‘Harry Potter’ Superfan Killed in Hamas Terrorist Attacks
A Particularly Bad Time For Disney
This controversy comes at a terrible time for Disney and Marvel. The Marvels (2023) will be released next weekend, and Disney hopes to break the trend of disappointing box office returns for its movies. However, The Marvels is only expected to bring in around $80 million at the box office, about half the opening weekend take of Captain Marvel (2019). But this may be the tip of the iceberg in this controversy for Disney.
The conflict in Israel and Gaza and Disney’s response has reignited the controversy of Marvel introducing the first Israeli superhero, Sabra. Disney announced at last year’s D23 Expo that the Israeli superhero would be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Israeli actress Shira Haas will play Sabra and will make her debut alongside Anthony Mackie in Captain American: New World Order (2024).
Sabra’s debut alongside Captain America further solidifies the ties between the two nations in the eyes of many worldwide, and whether intentional or not, causes several problems for Disney.
Deepak Sarma, professor at the College of Arts and Sciences at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, told Newsweek:
The Sabra character, when juxtaposed with Captain America, unavoidably amplifies nationalist and political ideologies and convictions, and could inadvertently exacerbate tensions in the Middle East. Of course, Sabra would be considered offensive by Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims and their supporters given the complexities of nationhood and nationalism in the Middle East. But the current conflict heightens tensions significantly.
Sabra was envisioned as the Israeli counterpart to Captain America when she debuted in the comics in 1970. She was imagined as a mutant with enhanced speed and strength. Her backstory was that she was a former member of Mossad, the Israeli Secret Service and her name translates to “a person born in Israel.”
At a time when thousands of Israeli and Palestinian civilians have been killed, the problems that the Walt Disney Company and Marvel Studios are facing seem trivial. However, this is just another in the long list of issues facing Disney CEO Bob Iger as he tries to revive Disney.
We will continue to update this article at Disney Fanatic.
Was there a similar backlash when Ms. Marvel was introduced?
So its ok to offend Christians and Jews by having LGBT characters and Disney defends those characters but having a Jewish hero is more offensive and needs to go. I love to see how this plays out and what excuse Disney uses to cut this character out because you know they will. It’s worse to be a Jew then LGBT.