Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Wales Online
Wales Online
Entertainment
Lewis Knight & Kirsty Bosley

Disney Plus slaps content warning on The Muppet Show

Disney Plus has put a content warning on episodes of The Muppet Show for its "negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures".

Classic episodes of the Jim Henson variety show were added to the streaming platform on February 19, starring household names like Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear and Gonzo.

But the episodes, which first aired between 1976 and 1981, come with a pre-warning of "negative depictions" of people and cultures, the Mirror reports.

According to Variety, the 18 episodes carrying the warning include those presented by guests including Johnny Cash, Blondie's Debbie Harry, comedians Steve Martin and Spike Milligan and more.

Disney notes that it does not wish to remove the offending content but instead "want to acknowledge its harmful impact" (Sportsphoto Ltd./Allstar)

As well as the content warning, Disney Plus states: "These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now."

The studio could have left the episodes of The Muppet Show off the platform altogether, but instead it hopes to address its offensive content directly.

"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," it said in a statement.

"Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe."

Viewers are directed to the Stories Matter website for more information, a site on which Disney expands on its 'ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion'.

Reddit user /ItachiIshtar has highlighted which episodes could be referred to by the content warning.

The suggestions put forward are the Johnny Cash episode, which includes a Confederacy Flag - commonly associated with White Supremacy - a Kenny Rogers episode featuring an Arabian muppet and also the Peter Sellers episode containing a segment entitled A Gypsy’s Violin, which shows the Pink Panther star donning a red vest, red belt, and black headscarf while speaking in a heavy accent.

Titles with content advisories do not appear in a kids profile on Disney Plus, but can only be watched on a standard profile.

The Mirror approached Disney for comment on this story.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.