Though we love spending time in the Disney parks, we love Disney movies just as much.
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After all, that’s how this whole Disney thing got started, isn’t it? Whether you’re a fan of the classics, the new movies, or both, chances are you have a favorite that you just can’t get enough of. It’s rare to hear news about one of Disney’s most iconic, classic films, but we’ve got an update you might want to know about!
According to BBC News, Mary Poppins, the classic Disney movie starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, has had its age rating raised by British film censors for containing “discriminatory language.”
©Disney
A derogatory term originally used by white Europeans about nomadic people in southern Africa is used in the film to refer to soot-faced chimney sweeps. The BBFC said that it now “exceeds our guidelines” for a U-rating.
The word is used twice by the Admiral Boom character.
©Disney
A spokesperson for the British Board of Film Classification shared a statement and said, “Most recently, the film was resubmitted to us in February 2024 for another theatrical re-release, and we reclassified it PG for discriminatory language. Mary Poppins (1964) includes two uses of the discriminatory term ‘hottentots’.
“While Mary Poppins has a historical context, the use of discriminatory language is not condemned, and ultimately exceeds our guidelines for acceptable language at U. We therefore classified the film PG for discriminatory language.”
Mary Poppins in EPCOT
So, Mary Poppins will now have a PG rating instead of the U it previously held in the United Kingdom.
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This is the most ridiculous nitpicking I ever heard of. They’re complaining about a beautiful, fun movie beloved by generations because of a word (hottentots) that in the spoken vernacular of the time (1960s) referred to rowdies, mischief makers, noisemakers, etc and in historic terms referred to an indigenous African group (history is history, like it or not, and I’m so tired of people not learning from it but trying to erase it)! This is a black eye on this wonderful movie and Walt Disney (why is everyone suddenly going after Walt and his company?). I’m so glad I own several versions of this movie I have loved for decades.
I’m 100% with Ncb! Couldn’t have said it better myself!
The term was also used in the Wizard of Oz when the Cowardly Lion was saying “what puts the hot in hottentots?” Will the WIzard of Oz also carry a PG rating? These hyper sensitive snow flakes should be no where near the entertainment industry
Actually, this is the second swipe at Mary Poppins in recent weeks. First, she is removed from 1900 Park Fare for a more “diverse” character lineup, now the movie is being “flagged” by proponents of cancel culture simply because they assume that we can’t contextualize what we watch. Hey Disney- this is why people don’t go see Disney movies anymore!
@Ncb nothing is being erased, or changed, the film is still widely available in its original form.
Language is fluid, some terms that where acceptable in the past no longer are and we also develop new words and definitions.
A result of language changing is the British Board of Film Classification updates it’s guidelines periodically.
Marry Poppins was re-subbmitted for another release, therfore the new release is measured against the current guidelines.
They didn’t go back and just change the rating, they changed it because Mary Poppins is going to be released again, so goes through the same approvals as all other films.
There’s also lots of (non Disney)films from the 90s that are rated PG with swearing and other adult things, which if they went through the rating today would easily be rated 15 or even more
This is so pathetic. Get a life people.
They can’t be serious!
🤦♀️
Be careful. We are living in dangerous times where we are being told what to think. Reclassification of this wonderful film is akin to burning the books (not far from this anyhow). Madness prevails!
Ncb I couldn’t agree more! Get over it people! Let’s just tear apart every single piece of literature, movie, and speech ever written and see where we can find one little word that could possibly offend some one person and destroy that piece of literature. I’m thinking the way sensitivity is these days soon we will see demands for the Declaration of Independence rewritten because not every race now residing in the US was represented in person at the actual signing! Some people say we are not sensitive enough! Well tell me how much more sensitive can people get when they are making a big deal about a word used hundreds of years ago in which 99% of humans don’t even know existed!
I have had it with this Woke hogwash! NCB stated the issue very succinctly. I am not sure who it is going after Walt’s legacy — external Woke whiners and
complainers or Bob Iger and others within Disney trying to disavow Walt’s creativity and brilliance, angry that Walt wasn’t Woke enough?
I agree, this is just plain stupid.
Hmmm, as long as you’re bringing up Mary Poppins. Julie Andrews was the ultimate ambassador for Walt’s magic 🪄. A model of professionalism, class, & charm. Today, Disney hires Rachel Zegler. The ultimate model of an ungrateful nightmare to Walt’s magic who knows zero about Disney history.
Just stop already! This is beyond ridiculous…
There’s no end to the absurdity.
Keep your hair on. No one is changing the film. No one is complaining about the film. This is not a black eye on the film. History exists, but that doesn’t mean works which include derogatory terms acceptable at the time can’t be examined differently in our own time. Think of the language in many period pieces set in slavery times in the US – what was acceptable then, and is appropriate in a film, doesn’t make it acceptable now. And all that is happening is a ratings change from everyone to Parental Guidance, which excludes absolutely no one from seeing the film. All it does is provide some guidance to parents who are choosing for their families.
Absolutely ridiculous, Hottentots, who’s ever heard that word ! I for one have never ever heard anyone use it or reference it, please when will all this nonsense stop
I’m from the UK & have never heard of this word. The only difference between PG & U certificates is that an adult has to sit with the child to watch the film. So with a PG certificate the child is still going to hear this word. Though I doubt a child would even pick up on it as I never have.
Ncb, the word is a racial slur used to criticize the people’s way of speaking. Yes, it is part of history. They are not trying to “erase it.” They are appropriately acknowledging that it as a term that might need a little parental guidance. You might want to question why this offends you.
But, Natalie, it’s not a racial slur. That’s the point. It was just a description. People are ridiculously over sensitive about nothing today!!!
So for the past 3 days I have been using the word in every day speech, you know what response I’ve gotten, laughing and asked what’s that mean? Point made.
What a society of snowflakes we live in…
It’s hard to even comment….
I appreciate the updated rating. When you know better, you do better.