Disney accused of whitewashing racist content from old films

An IMAX poster for the recent live-action remake of the classic Disney film "Dumbo". [File photo provided to China Plus]

Disney+ promises to be a hub for access on-demand the iconic brand's past and present productions— but not all of its oldies will be on offer again for audiences.

The 1946 film "Song of the South" will not be available on the streaming service, and a scene in the 1941 production of "Dumbo" featuring a bird named Jim Crow will be edited out, according to a report by Boardwalk Times that was later confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter.

"Song of the South" was excluded from the platform because of its portrayal of African Americans working on a plantation and serving their white masters. The crow from Dumbo was a reference to the Jim Crow laws that allowed for racial segregation.

Responses to Disney's decision have been mixed, with the debate on Twitter highlighting two sides of the debate. On the one hand, Disney has been attacked for what is being seen as excessive political correctness, while others have claimed that the removal of these old portrayals of race risks forgetting a part of America's complex history of race relations.

Disney+ is set to launch on November 12. It will include 25 original series in its first year, including Star Wars and Marvel spinoffs.