Disney is changing the content warnings that appear before some of its classic films on Disney+. The company said the new disclaimer will warn that the movie “may contain stereotypes or negative depictions.”
The warning will no longer appear as introductory text that plays before the beginning of a film. Instead, the language will now appear in the details section of certain films, where viewers will have to navigate to find it.
The current content warning that autoplays before movies such as “Dumbo” and “Peter Pan” cautions of “negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures.” It adds, “These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now.”
As of Wednesday morning, the original content warning still appeared on Disney+. A company spokesman confirmed the changes are being prepared. Disney is also changing how it rates its executives on diversity and makes compensation decisions.
Company leaders will now be graded on a “Talent Strategy” performance factor instead of a “Diversity & Inclusion” one.
Disney updates film content warnings
Sonia Coleman, Disney’s senior executive vice president and chief human resources officer, announced the change in an email on Tuesday.
The new factor will cover how executives “incorporate different perspectives,” “cultivate an environment where all employees can thrive,” and “sustain a robust pipeline.
The evolution of Disney’s content warnings comes after other decisions the company has made that signal a shift in strategy on cultural issues. In 2022, Disney’s chief executive, Robert A. Iger, said publicly that some of the company’s products had grown too political.
He ordered a review of upcoming projects at that time. The changes at Disney reflect a broader trend of companies reassessing their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Some have scaled back initiatives in response to the current political climate and pushback against such programs.
