Disney+ Rewords Content Warnings on Old Movies LikePeter PanandDumboamid DEI Strategy Shift

Mar. 15, 2025

Peter Pan in 1953’s Peter Pan and Dumbo in 1941’s Dumbo.Photo:Disney (2)

Disney (2)

Disney is planning to alter how it approaches content warnings presented in front of movies like 1941’sDumboand 1953’sPeter Pan.On Tuesday, Feb. 11,Axiosreported that Disney will remove the content advisory that runs ahead of some of its classic animated films on Disney+ that warns audiences the movie “includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of peoples or cultures” as part of a larger shift on its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in reaction to the Trump administration’s pressure on those programs across businesses.Among other changes the company is making internally, the outlet reported that a new advisory that reads, “This program is presented as originally created and may contain stereotypes or negative depictions,” will play in front of some older titles, citing two anonymous sources.Captain Hook in 1953’s Peter Pan.DisneyDisney originally added those content advisory warnings toDumbo,Peter Pan,The AristocatsandSwiss Family Robinsonback in 2019, asVarietyreported. In 2020, thosecontent warnings were updated; as the company explained at that time, titles likePeter Pancontain stereotypical portrayals of indigenous people, with lead characters repeatedly referring to those characters as “redskins,” which the company identified as “an offensive term” at that time.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The previous disclaimer instituted in front of some titles in 2020 read, “This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. 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. Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe. To learn more about how stories have impacted society, please visitwww.Disney.com/StoriesMatter.“Dumbo in 1941’s Dumbo.DisneyAccording toVariety, the new content warning Disney is instituting on Disney+ is more similar to the original warning it used in 2019, which read, “This program is presented as originally created. It may contain outdated cultural depictions.”Disney’s changes to its Disney+ content warnings come as the Trump administration puts pressure on both public and private entities to shut down or significantly alter diversity, equity and inclusion programs. AsABC Newsreported on Tuesday, Feb. 11, PBS is shutting down its DEI office to comply with anexecutive orderPresidentDonald Trumpissued in January that rolls back equal opportunity policies for federal contractors that have been in place since the 1960s.

Disney is planning to alter how it approaches content warnings presented in front of movies like 1941’sDumboand 1953’sPeter Pan.

On Tuesday, Feb. 11,Axiosreported that Disney will remove the content advisory that runs ahead of some of its classic animated films on Disney+ that warns audiences the movie “includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of peoples or cultures” as part of a larger shift on its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in reaction to the Trump administration’s pressure on those programs across businesses.

Among other changes the company is making internally, the outlet reported that a new advisory that reads, “This program is presented as originally created and may contain stereotypes or negative depictions,” will play in front of some older titles, citing two anonymous sources.

Captain Hook in 1953’s Peter Pan.Disney

Disney

Disney originally added those content advisory warnings toDumbo,Peter Pan,The AristocatsandSwiss Family Robinsonback in 2019, asVarietyreported. In 2020, thosecontent warnings were updated; as the company explained at that time, titles likePeter Pancontain stereotypical portrayals of indigenous people, with lead characters repeatedly referring to those characters as “redskins,” which the company identified as “an offensive term” at that time.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The previous disclaimer instituted in front of some titles in 2020 read, “This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. 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. Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe. To learn more about how stories have impacted society, please visitwww.Disney.com/StoriesMatter.”

Dumbo in 1941’s Dumbo.Disney

According toVariety, the new content warning Disney is instituting on Disney+ is more similar to the original warning it used in 2019, which read, “This program is presented as originally created. It may contain outdated cultural depictions.”

Disney’s changes to its Disney+ content warnings come as the Trump administration puts pressure on both public and private entities to shut down or significantly alter diversity, equity and inclusion programs. AsABC Newsreported on Tuesday, Feb. 11, PBS is shutting down its DEI office to comply with anexecutive orderPresidentDonald Trumpissued in January that rolls back equal opportunity policies for federal contractors that have been in place since the 1960s.

source: people.com