Disney Plus Pulls ‘Lady and the Tramp’ Over Racially Insensitive Depiction Of Italian Chefs

By Scott Slute

Buena Vista - Last October, Disney Plus added a content warning to several films for “negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures”. Now, the popular streamer has pulled the 1955 classic Lady and the Tramp for what it referred to as “culturally insensitive portrayal of Italian-American chefs”.

“Although many Italians are overweight chefs who prepare elaborate, multi-course meals for stray animals, we at Disney recognize this is no longer an accurate portrayal of Italian chefs in America,” Disney said in their statement,

“We understand the depiction of these chefs, though reflective of the times, are insensitive to Italian chefs who don’t cook spaghetti and meatballs for street animals. Henceforth, we will be pulling Lady and the Tramp from our streaming services, along with properly educating our team on the culinary contributions the Italianx community has made in feeding all animals, not just stray dogs.”

Though many are praising Disney for owning up and atoning for their past wrongdoing, others think the company has gone too far. Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro expressed his disappointment in the film being pulled.

“Even if you find this portrayal ‘offensive’, you cannot deny it is historically accurate of the era,” Shapiro said on his podcast, “There are countless historical references to Italian restaurant-owners befriending mutts and accommodating dog-dates in the alley behind their restaurant. Are we just supposed to pretend this didn’t happen because it’s upsetting to liberals?”

Aside from pulling the film, Walt Disney World in Orlando announced they will be updating the Lady and the Tramp-themed restaurant ‘Tony’s Town Square’ with a more authentically Italian experience by firing the current kitchen staff and replacing them all with Sri Lankans.

Scott Slute is the Editor in Chief at The Toronto Harold