The 10 biggest Disney controversies of recent times
These are the 10 biggest Disney controversies of recent times.
Disney is one of the most successful and popular companies in the world of entertainment, but it has also had its share of controversies throughout its history.
In this article, we review some of the most recent controversies that have affected the Mickey Mouse company.
The 10 biggest Disney controversies of recent times
1. Oye Primos
The new Disney series, «Oye Primos», has caused great controversy among the Latino public, who accuses it of being racist and showing negative stereotypes about Mexican and Latin American culture. The series narrates the adventures of Tater Ramírez Humphrey, a 10-year-old girl who lives with her 12 cousins in the Terremoto Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles.
The series has been criticized for the incorrect use of Spanish, the sepia tone of the animation, the names of the characters, and the portrayal of poverty and disorder. Series creator Natasha Kline has defended herself by saying that she drew on her own experience as an American woman with Mexican roots. However, many users have expressed their rejection and disappointment with Disney for not respecting or valuing the diversity and richness of Latino culture.
2. The Mulan remake and support for the Chinese government
The live-action Mulan movie, released in 2020, sparked controversy for being shot in part in the Xinjiang region, where the Chinese government has been accused of violating the human rights of the Uyghur minority. In addition, the leading actress, Liu Yifei, expressed her support for the Hong Kong police during the 2019 pro-democracy protests.
3. The firing and the return of James Gunn
The Guardians of the Galaxy director was fired by Disney in 2018 after some of his old tweets with offensive jokes about pedophilia and rape were rescued. However, after a campaign of support from fans and actors in the saga, Disney decided to rehire him in 2019 to direct the third installment.
4. The cancellation of Gina Carano
The actress who played Cara Dune in the series The Mandalorian was fired by Disney in 2021 after posting several messages on social networks with controversial opinions about covid-19, electoral fraud and comparisons between Nazism and the current political climate. Her departure caused a division among the series’ followers, some of whom called for a boycott of Disney.
5. Ariel’s race change
The choice of African-American actress Halle Bailey to play Ariel in the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid caused a great deal of controversy in 2019 among some fans who considered that the character should be white and red-haired as in the original film. However, others defended the decision and applauded the diversity.
6. The gay kiss in Star Wars
Star Wars Episode IX, The Rise of Skywalker, featured the first same-sex kiss in the saga’s history, albeit for only a brief moment at the end of the film. This gesture was celebrated by some as a breakthrough in LGBT+ representation, but criticized by others as a forced and superficial attempt at inclusion.
7. Banning Johnny Depp
The actor who gave life to Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean saga was excluded by Disney from future installments after his controversial divorce with Amber Heard, who accused him of domestic violence. Although Depp denied the accusations and presented evidence that he was the victim, Disney decided to do without him and find a new protagonist for the franchise.
8. The closure of Blue Sky Studios
In 2021, Disney announced the definitive closure of Blue Sky Studios, the studio responsible for films such as Ice Age, Rio or Ferdinand, which it had acquired after the purchase of Fox in 2019. The decision was due to the economic difficulties caused by the pandemic and It meant the dismissal of hundreds of workers and the cancellation of several projects under development.
9. The price of premium access to Disney+
The Disney+ streaming platform launched in 2020 a premium access modality that allowed you to watch some movies before they were in theaters or without waiting for their free release on the service, but in exchange for an additional payment. This option generated criticism among some users who considered it an abuse to charge more to watch movies like Mulan or Raya and the Last Dragon when they already paid a monthly subscription.
10. The Scarlett Johansson lawsuit
The actress who played Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe sued Disney in 2021 for breach of contract by releasing her solo film both in theaters and on Disney+ with premium access, which reduced her box office revenue. Disney responded by accusing Johansson of ignoring the effects of the pandemic and the benefits of streaming for viewers.
11. The magical world of Disney faces the culture wars
In 2022, Disney found itself embroiled in a political dispute with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over his opposition to a bill restricting the teaching of sexual and gender diversity in schools. Disney also changed its theme park ads to use more inclusive language, drawing pushback from some conservative quarters.
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