The Muppet Show Episodes Hit With 'Harmful' Content Warning on Disney+

TV Line ^ | February 21, 2021 | Nick Caruso

[EdnaMode]

Play the music, light the lights… and slap on the disclaimer?

Select episodes of The Muppet Show — which began streaming on Disney+ on Friday, Feb. 19 — have been hit with a disclaimer citing “negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures.”

“These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now,” the disclaimer reads. “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.”

The warning message continues: “Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe. To learn more about how stories have impacted society, visit: Disney.com/StoriesMatter.”

The 12-second disclaimer was added before a total of 18 episodes throughout the series’ five-season run. The most obvious of offenses include an entry with country star Johnny Cash performing in front of a Confederate flag, in addition to various negative depictions of Native Americans and Middle Eastern people in songs and sketches. (This Reddit thread includes a list of the specific edits made.) Also notable is the exclusion of two episodes from the show’s fifth and final season, featuring guest stars Brooke Shields and staff writer Chris Langham.

[EdnaMode]

Pathetic.

[Secret Agent Man]

very pathetic

this chapter of history will be regarded as one of the worst in our existence

the socialist orwellian pussy years

[W.]

D’ya think The Three Stooges would give lefties fart hailure?

(Gene Wilder reference)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

My FAVORITE Muppets Guest/Song of all time. Loretta Lynn singing, ‘One’s On The Way.’

I guess it’s not ‘harmful’ to stereotype poor white women from the sticks poppin’ out bunches of babies ‘cuz they’re too stupid to know better.

*Rolleyes*

Enjoy! :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5So02Fk6cbU

[hoe_cake]

can't remember which Disney film had the child star character go through shock treatments...the film is 20 years old. And what about the cartoon shows like Poppy punching poor Olive Oil. They have their own heads so far up their self-serving arses they don't recognize their hypocrisy.

[hoe_cake]

Popeye

[Steve_Seattle]

I wonder what the “harmful stereotypes” are? Mexicans wearing serapes? East Indian women wearing saris? French people with French accents? Spanish people with Spanish accents?

[smokingfrog]

I think I saw a Muppets show where they showed a hippie as being dirty, unkept and had a limited vocabulary. Very offensive!

[ifinnegan]

And the worst is the Swedish Chef.

They banned that for certain.

[Ed Condon]

Bring back “The land of Gorch”

[bgill]

Okey dokey. So, Disney is ashamed of the content but not so much they won’t air them for the $$$$$ the shows will bring in.

[dawn67yo]

They pose the same content warning "This video may be inappropriate for some users" before many Christian themed movies.

Then you have to click "I understand and wish to proceed." But the "warning" is not consistent, I find it on some Christian movies and not on others...go figure.

[EEGator]

[LibertarianLiz]

Does Professor Bunsen Honeydew and his sidekick Beaker survive the cuts? What about Statler and Hilton up in the balcony throwing out insults? What about Miss Piggy sexually harassing poor Kermit? If they really start cutting this show apart, there won't be anything left to watch.

Why do the younger generations possess no sense of humor whatsoever? Such a grim group.

[The MAGA-Deplorian]

Wonder if they will show the episode with Peter Sellers singing "Cigarettes, and Whiskey and Wild, Wild Women"?

[Alberta's Child]

True! But just take a look at one of the epic skits from an old episode of The Muppet Show:

Kenny Rogers & The Muppets: The Gambler

You couldn't put that on network TV today! In the space of three minutes the old dude:

1. is drinking whiskey
2. is smoking
3. drops dead in his sleep
4. scares the sh!t out of me when his ghost leaps out of his body and begins dancing.

LOL.

[dfwgator]

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

They might as well put that disclaimer on nearly all their shows because of that Swedish chef bit.

BORK! BORK! BORK!

Combined PING! and DANG!

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Yes, all shows from now on will only have clean, articulate, storybook people! (old Biden reference)