For almost four years, Disney has given fans the chance to watch some of their favorite films, along with classic television shows, and a ton of original programming on the streaming service, Disney+. Disney+ was launched just months before COVID and exploded during the pandemic. Disney+ doesn’t just feature Disney, but also Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic. In addition to the dozens of fictional films and television shows, there are also a number of incredible documentaries. Many come from National Geographic, but Disney has made several of their own.
One documentary, set to be released this fall, is causing a lot of stir among certain communities. The documentary is called Ataturk and is based on the life of former Turkish leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Ataturk is most well-known as the leader who helped make Turkey an independent nation. He was the key player in the Battle of Gallipoli, which was the downfall of the Ottoman Empire. He had what is considered more secular policies, and his main goal was to ensure that Turkey did not come under the control of Western powers.
However, not everyone is happy about this documentary. The Armenian National Committee of America called the leader — who died in 1938 — a “genocidal killer”. They called for Disney to cancel the series.
Calling on @DisneyPlus to cancel its series glorifying Mustafa Kemal Ataturk – a Turkish dictator and genocide killer with the blood of millions of #Greek #Armenian #Assyrian #Chaldean #Syriac #Aramean #Maronite and other #Christian martyrs on his hands.
Half of Turkish Twitter is desperately denying Ataturk was a genocidal killer. The other half is joyfully celebrating that Ataturk was a genocidal killer. (pictured)
Half of Turkish Twitter is desperately denying Ataturk was a genocidal killer.
The other half is joyfully celebrating that Ataturk was a genocidal killer. (pictured) pic.twitter.com/eEaZQbuVSx
— ANCA (@ANCA_DC) June 29, 2023
This is not the first time a film about Ataturk has caused significant backlash. According to a report from The New York Times, Antonio Banderas was supposed to portray Ataturk in a film financed by the son of Laurence Olivier, but pulled out when he received a number of complaints from Greek Americans. They initiated a letter-writing campaign to Banderas, telling home of the atrocities committed against their families by Ataturk. Banderas’ agent, Lisa Baum, said that the actor pulled out of the project to focus on another one.
Those who wrote to Mr. Banderas called Ataturk:
”savage maniac” who was also ”a child molester of both sexes, a mass murderer, a destroyer of Greek civilization and in general a disgrace to human civilization as we know it.”
At this time, it is unknown how Disney will portray the controversial dictator. In addition to glorifying a “genocidal killer”, the series has also been called out for cultural appropriation, as well as the misrepresentation of historical facts. The series is set to premiere on Disney+ on October 29. Disney has not commented on the possible issues caused by the new series.
