Disney of the Day: Netflix Changes Pocahontas Description After Internet Outcry
Dr. Adrienne K., owner of the Native Appropriations blog, just wanted to watch a movie, and it led to Netflix changing the description for Pocahontas.
While scrolling through Netflix, she came upon the 1995 Disney film and immediately found the description sexist and disrespectful of native peoples.
Here's the original description:
Dr. Adrienne took to Twitter for a short appeal:
Just the use of "woman" and "yearns" is so disgusting. It sounds like a pr0n description. Or a bad romance novel.
— Dr. Adrienne K. (@NativeApprops) September 1, 2015I just wanted to watch a movie.
— Dr. Adrienne K. (@NativeApprops) September 1, 2015
And then wrote a longer one on her blog.
...[T]hese movies all have well developed romance plot lines, but their (white, male) protagonists get to save things, fight people, have adventures, and be 'lord of the jungle'–they are not defined by their romantic relationships in the film.
Br>
After the post and the sizable Internet agreement, Netflix actually responded directly to Dr. Adrienne and admitted fault.
Got an email from @netflix last night, there is officially a new description for Pocahontas! http://t.co/RjJLEGoObS pic.twitter.com/3867m5OJB0
— Dr. Adrienne K. (@NativeApprops) September 9, 2015
The new description tells a decidedly different story.