After ‘Snow Woke’, Disney axes cultural content warnings for Aussie viewers

The 102-year-old film studio has dumped content warnings before its classic animated movies as it seeks to align itself with Donald Trump’s anti-diversity policies.

The Siamese cats who wreaked havoc in the main character’s home in 1955's Lady and the Tramp.

Disney has dumped the content warnings before its classic animated movies, such as Lady and the Tramp, Peter Pan and the Jungle Book, on its streaming service in Australia, as it seeks to align itself with Donald Trump’s anti-diversity policies.

The 102-year-old company is considered one of the most progressive film studios, casting Latina actress Rachel Zegler in the lead in the live action remake of Snow White, with computer animated dwarfs and key story elements changed, prompting some critics to dub it ‘Snow Woke’.

Rachel Zegler in the live action remake of Snow White.

1955’s Lady and the Tramp previously displayed a content warning.

After Mr Trump launched a crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in February, Disney said it would soften the content warnings on some of its older movies. But Australian subscribers to the Disney+ streaming platform will now notice that it’s deleted many of them completely.

The warnings, which began in late 2019 with the wording changed a year later, stated that: “This programme 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.”

In Lady and the Tramp – which was released in 1955 – the warning related to the Siamese cats who wreak havoc in the main character’s home as perpetuating anti-Asian stereotypes. In 1953’s Peter Pan it was about its depiction of native Americans.

Other companies have complied quickly with Mr Trump’s directives, but in some cases have been more nuanced than blanket moves, adapting their policies to different countries. For example, after Mr Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America via an executive order in January, Google and Apple swiftly updated their map apps. But name change would only be reflected in its full entirety in the US. In Mexico there was no change, while people using the apps overseas still saw the body of water named Gulf of Mexico, with Gulf of America in brackets.

Donald Trump has launched a crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Picture: AP

Disney did not respond to questions from this masthead before publication. In a memo obtained by Variety, Disney chief human resources officer Sonia Coleman outlined how the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion policies would change following Mr Trump’s orders.

“Creating a welcoming and respectful environment for our employees and guests is core to our company culture and our business,” Ms Coleman wrote. “Our values — integrity, creativity, collaboration, community, inclusion — guide our actions and how we treat each other. Today I want to provide an update on how our values are embedded in our leader compensation programs, specifically our Other Performance Factors, as well as share some of the work that has been underway to evolve our talent strategy consistent with these values.”

Mr Trump has Hollywood in his sights as part of his ‘Make America Great Again’ pledge. This week he announced plans to impose a 100 per cent tariff on films produced overseas, in response to other countries’ tax incentives.

“The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death,” Mr Trump wrote on social media

Australia, the UK and Canada have been among countries to use tax breaks as a way to attract film production. Disney’s Marvel Studios is shooting two Avengers sequels in London. The year’s highest grossing film, Warner Bros’ A Minecraft Movie, was filmed in New Zealand, with Kayleen Waters, head of Microsoft-owned Mojang Studios, serving as an executive producer.

Mr Trump said the foreign tax incentives were “a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda!”