Inside ‘woke’ controversies ruining Disney’s magic – from ‘discriminating’ dwarf scandals to Prince Charming cancelled

IT’S no secret that Disney has gone woke. 

Prince Charming has been branded a “stalker”, rainbow-themed merchandise has angered Star Wars fans and now trigger warnings for TREES feature in the new the £200 million remake of 1937 classic Snow White.

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The 2025 live action remake of Snow White has been labelled the “most controversial film of the year” by anti-woke critics[/caption]

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Star Wars’ beloved robot R2-D2 was supposedly given a “woke” upgrade last year[/caption]

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The British Board of Film Classification also warns that “a character threatens to shove something up another’s backside during a comic exchange” in the 2025 blockbuster.  

And to make matters worse, actress Rachel Zegler, 23, who plays Snow White, said the original Prince Charming acted like a “stalker”.

Zegler also refused to sing Someday My Prince Will Come because she felt it was “weird”.

Snow White becoming the most controversial film of this year is no surprise, given Disney has faced immense criticism for its “woke madness” over the last few years. 

The global brand used to dominate box offices and its various parks across the globe were pockets of magic. 

But after 2023 becoming a particularly rocky year – including falling stock prices, leadership turmoil and subscriber numbers grinding to a halt – it seems Disney just can’t stop falling out of favour with its once-loyal fans. 

This has become especially obvious following endless contentions surrounding the new Snow White film. 

“Disney execs must be banging their heads on boardroom tables wondering how a film designed to delight five-year-olds proved so controversial,” says The Sun film reviewer, Grant Rollings. 

“This live-action remake of the 1937 animation could even win awards for trying hard not to offend anyone.

“But the earnest messaging about being fearless and fair, plus the £200 million budget, suggests it is supposed to be taken seriously.

“If Disney thinks it can avoid ‘Princess Problems’ – as a new track goes – by trying to please all by playing it safe then it is living in a fantasy.”

Here, Fabulous takes a look at the “woke” controversies making Disney lose fans at a rapid rate…

SNOW WHITE AND ZERO DWARFS

Dwarf actors were left furious over this year’s Snow White remake because bosses chose to use CGI characters, rather than real people. 

In the live-action film, which was released on Friday (March 21), the seven dwarfs were replaced by computer-generated “magical creatures”.

This move was branded as “discriminating” by dwarf actors, who also feared it could damage their careers. 

A number of these actors had played the roles in pantomime adaptations of the Disney story, but were shunned in favour of CGI for the film. 

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The 2025 live action remake of Snow White used CGI dwarfs rather than hiring real actors[/caption]

Bodybuilder and performer Choon Tan, 31, from north London, who has dwarfism, told Femail the movie’s reliance on CGI for the seven dwarfs is ‘absolutely absurd and discriminating in a sense’.

“I think Disney is trying too hard to be politically correct, but in doing so it’s damaging our careers and opportunities,” performer Choon Tan, 31, who has dwarfism told MailOnline. 

“There really is nothing wrong casting someone with dwarfism as a dwarf in any given opportunity. 

“As long as we are treated equally and with respect, we’re usually more than happy to take on any acting roles that are suitable for us. 

I think Disney is trying too hard to be politically correct, but in doing so it’s damaging our careers and opportunities. There really is nothing wrong casting someone with dwarfism as a dwarf in any given opportunity

Choon TanMailOnline

“Plus, it’s an opportunity for young children to see someone with dwarfism, which they may have never seen before.”

Choon also pointed out that Disney “wouldn’t use CGI for a tall character” and emphasised the importance of every actor being “given an equal opportunity”. 

He continued: “There are plenty of actors who are capable and would have loved to have played these roles and it’s just taken away one of the few opportunities that we have.

On the flip side, Game Of Thrones star Peter ­Dinklage slammed them for even “making that f***ing backwards story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together”.

R2 LGBTQ

Back in May last year, Star Wars fans accused Disney of going woke over a rainbow toy version of R2-D2.

The robot has been a fan favourite character since 1977 that communicates with beeps and electronic noises.

The redecorated and renamed figure of the normally blue, white and silver droid left enthusiasts cold.

It was released by Disney as part of its annual Pride Collection but many accused the giant of injecting politics into their favourite space series.

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Star Wars fans accused Disney of going woke over this rainbow toy version of R2-D2[/caption]

Online collector groups had to switch off comments after angry debates erupted over R3-RN8W.

Collector Jimmy Wright posted: “Up to you if you buy it but I want my Star Wars non-political. It’s my getaway from reality.”

The Disney Store website described the toy as “a new astromech droid designed with Pride in mind”. Available in the US for $14.99, it is said to incorporate “every color of the rainbow”.

Disney, which acquired the rights to Star Wars in 2012, says its Pride Collection was “created by members and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community”.

THE ECO MERMAID

The Little Mermaid is a story about a female sea creature named Ariel who makes a deal with the sea witch Ursula to become human in order to win the love of a prince. 

Disney’s 1989 cartoon of the love story quickly became a firm favourite, with Nineties babies touting the original songs as the soundtrack of their childhood. 

But when bosses at the media juggernaut released a live action adaption of the film in 2023, it was hit with allegations of “wokeness”. 

Namely, the storyline now had an eco-warrior angle to it – which fans of the original film didn’t want in the new adaptation. 

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Little Mermaid fans were not impressed by a scene criticising humans in the 2023 live action remake[/caption]

One scene showed a king and his daughters sifting through the debris of a recently destroyed ship and commenting on the harm that humans inflict on the coral reefs.

“They have no respect for the balance of the oceans,” one character said.  

Although just a small snippet of the story, anti-woke critics were quick to call Disney out for virtue signalling its audience. 

“Environmentalism is a regularly employed woke cudgel wielded against the audience,” James Carrick wrote on his blog. 

KISS-TROVERSY

Kisses have also been a subject of controversy in the world of Disney. 

The Snow White scene where Prince Charming wakes up the princess with a smooch in the 1937 film was dubbed “problematic” by critics in 2021. 

Why? Because she can’t consent while she’s asleep. 

Disney bosses retaliated that the kiss was one of true love, rather than lust, because the prince thought she was dead.

As a result, the 2023 live action rendition of The Little Mermaid was given a “woke” upgrade in regards to kissing. 

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Kisses have also been a subject of controversy in the world of Disney amid its woke upgrades[/caption]

The film’s famous song, Kiss The Girl, had its lyrics changed to not promote non-consensual kissing. 

Rather than being told to kiss his mermaid lover, love interest Eric is advised to ask her if he can kiss her. 

The lyrics used to be: “Yes, you want her / Look at her, you know you do / Possible she wants you too, there is one way to ask her / It don’t take a word, not a single word / Go on and kiss the girl.” 

They are now: “Use your words, boy, and ask her / If the time is right and the time is tonight / Go on and kiss the girl.”

MARY PG-OPPINS

Some film critics argue that even the 1964 childhood classic of Mary Poppins hasn’t been exempt from a “woke” upgrade.

Long standing as one of the most popular and successful children’s films ever made, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) declared last year that it had to upgrade its rating. 

Once classified as a ‘U’, which meant it was suitable for audiences of all ages, it was raised to PG, which means some scenes are now regarded as unsuitable for young children.

The upgrade was made based on the film including the word ‘Hottentot’ twice in the script. 

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Mary Poppins had its classification increased to PG… 60 years after its release[/caption]

The term is derived from Dutch settlers in southern Africa who used it to refer to a nomadic tribe called the Khoekhoe.

It developed negative connotations throughout history, but was even regarded as a date term in 1964. 

Film critic Brian Viner argued that the term being dated during the film’s recording was “precisely the point”. 

He said: “The absurd Edwardian Naval veteran Admiral Boom (played by Reginald Owen) mistakes sooty-faced chimney sweeps for ‘Hottentots’ purely to illustrate what an idiotic, out-of-touch old duffer he is.”