Disney Plus added a warning on 'The Muppet Show' episodes that contain 'stereotypes of people or cultures'

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Disney Plus added a warning on 'The Muppet Show' episodes that contain 'stereotypes of people or cultures'
Characters on "The Muppet Show."United Archives / Contributor
  • "The Muppet Show" is now streaming on Disney Plus.
  • Disney Plus added a disclaimer for stereotypes and negative cultural depictions in 18 episodes.
  • The warning was added to "Peter Pan," "The Jungle Book," and other movies on Disney Plus in 2020.
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"The Muppet Show" is now streaming on Disney Plus.

All five seasons of Jim Henson's generation-transcending series, which first aired in the '70s, have been added to the streaming platform.

As the streaming service has done with other programs in recent months, Disney Plus added a content warning before select episodes to warn viewers about stereotypes and negative cultural depictions.

According to Variety, 18 episodes of "The Muppet Show" on Disney Plus show the following disclaimer at the beginning of the show.

"This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures," the disclaimer reads. "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."

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

The disclaimer is part of Disney's "Stories Matter" initiative, which is meant to improve how the company's stories represent all people and communities by calling out - instead of removing - content that it deems as portraying negative stereotypes.

One example of a "The Muppet Show" episode that's labeled with the "Stories Matter" warning is one that contains a scene with Johnny Cash, Variety reported. In the episode from the show's fifth season, the country singer performs in front of a Confederate flag, according to Newsweek.

Disney in 2020 added the same disclaimer to a variety of movies that appear on Disney Plus - including "Peter Pan," "The Aristocats," "The Jungle Book," "Lady and the Tramp," "Dumbo," and "Swiss Family Robinson."

Disney Plus added a warning on 'The Muppet Show' episodes that contain 'stereotypes of people or cultures'
A scene from the 1953 animated movie "Peter Pan."Disney

Disney's "Stories Matter" website pinpoints why those movies were labeled with the disclaimer.

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For example, the website specifies that in the 1953 animated version of "Peter Pan," "The film portrays Native people in a stereotypical manner that reflects neither the diversity of Native peoples nor their authentic cultural traditions."

Representatives for Disney Plus did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

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