(RightWing.org) – Disney continues making headlines at home over its recent clash with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) over the entertainment company’s backing of woke policies and pushback on the wildly popular Republican leader’s common sense approach to social issues. Overseas, one of its films graced the headlines of Chinese state-run media for being lazy and irresponsible.
On May 25, the Global Times (GT) published an article mocking Disney’s decision to remake “The Little Mermaid” as a live-action film featuring black actress Halle Bailey. Published under the patronage of the Chinese Communist Party’s flagship newspaper, the People’s Daily, the tabloid serves as a propaganda arm for the Chinese government.
The GT hit piece pointed to the movie’s “mixed reviews” in the United States and less than stellar presales and pre-screenings in mainland China. It also noted that the number of pre-screen viewings recently dropped.
The Chinese website noted that people who viewed the film’s early screenings complained about its lack of imagination. The GT also called the absence of a proper effort to reimagine classic animations “lazy and irresponsible storytelling,” providing no deference to the reason the animated movie became wildly popular in the first place.
Turning its attention to Disney’s woke policies, GT noted that Karen Burke, the head of the company’s General Editorial Content division, recently vowed to increase the representation of groups like racial minorities in its productions. However, the article suggested that if the company wanted to “represent marginalized groups,” it would be better served by creating new films that “reflect their experiences” instead of turning classic animations into “sacrificial lambs” at the altar of “political correctness.”
Twisting the knife, GT reported that when companies like Disney attempt to turn wildly successful films into “arenas for racial conflict,” their underlying meaning gets lost in the haze of woke culture. Ultimately, children won’t care if beloved figures like Cinderella and Prince Charming live happily ever after. Instead, children will become lost in concerns focusing on the color of their skin, and Disney’s fairy tales will end up losing their magical glory.
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