Disney in crisis: Woke outrage leaves 100 year celebrations in tatters
The Walt Disney company announced discounts on children's tickets at Disneyland and Disney World as a fallout from their numerous woke rows
Getty
Disney is celebrating its 100th birthday this week, but critics have highlighted that their recent embroilment in woke controversies has tainted the celebrations.
From rows over land with Conservative politicians, to their recent releases bombing at the box office, Disney’s 100th year has not been a smooth-sailing.
Earlier this month, The Walt Disney Company announced discounts on children's tickets at Disneyland and Disney World as a fallout from their numerous woke rows.
Children's tickets can be purchased at the California-based Disneyland resort for as low as $50 (£40.9) between January 8 and March 10 of next year.
WATCH NOW: Woke Disney remakes
The entertainment giant has said it has seen park and hotel attendees drop, which they have claimed is due to inflation impacting shopping habits.
However, it comes after the company has become entangled in a woke argument with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
The media giant and the Republicans are currently locked in a legal battle over the formation of the Central Florida Oversight District board, which encompasses Disney’s parks in Florida.
The dispute flared when DeSantis disagreed with Walt Disney's corporate policies on inclusion, diversity, and supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
Tensions grew last year when Disney denounced Florida’s controversial Parental Rights in Education Law in 2022.
The legislation restricts classroom discussion of sexual orientation and identity.
In retaliation, republican lobby-makers stripped “woke Disney” of their self-governing authority they had over the area.
DISNEY LATEST:
Other Disney remakes such as The Little Mermaid have drawn criticismDisneyThe move gave power to DeSantis, who gained control of the board which governs the company’s 25,000 acres of land and renamed the locality the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, which was previously called the Reedy Creek Improvement District.
Disney countered this decision by filing a federal lawsuit against the board and DeSantis, which preserved its interests in the land for years to come.
Meanwhile, the company has also faced blows at the box office, with their last eight releases underperforming compared to expectations.
The firm is facing a staggering $900million loss after many of its more woke-minded films have flopped.
Guardians of the Galaxy and a live-action version of the Little Mermaid underperformed in ticket sales, whilst two other recent films, Strange World and Lightyear, were huge failures.
The Little Mermaid adaptation caused controversy when black actress Halle Bailey, was cast to play the signature underwater princess.
Jodie Benson, the voice of the original animated movie’s Ariel, defended the casting, saying: “The most important thing is to tell the story.
“And we have, as a family, we have raised our children, and for ourselves, that we don't see anything that's different on the outside.”
Disney backlash erupts as fans outraged at 'smug' and 'woke' Snow White star for trashing 1937 classicThe upcoming adaption of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves has already faced a heavy backlash, after leading actress Rachel Zegler, slammed the original.
Zegler came under fire after social media users shared snippets from interviews in which she hits out at the original Disney classic.
She branded the Prince a “stalker” and has insisted the reimagining of Snow White won't be a “love story” but focus on the character's desire to be a strong leader.
“I just mean that it's no longer 1937,” she told Variety.
“She's not going to be saved by the Prince and she's not going to be dreaming about true love.
“She's dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be and the leader that her late father told her that she could be if she was fearless, fair, brave, and true.”
People flocked to social media to express their outrage at her comments. One said: “The fact that everyone is so unhappy with Rachel Zegler and Snow White shows how *EVERYONE* - not just conservatives - is done with the strong female lead trope. It's overdone and the girls are tired of it.”
A second added: “Rachel Zegler (aka Snow Woke) is one of the most smug new arrivals in Hollywood. She calls the original Snow White prince a 'stalker'. Has she even watched the original movies?”
The film is due to be released on March 22, 2024.