Disney Remains Silent on Splash Mountain Outcry | THR News - video Dailymotion

Demands to rebrand the classic ride have been gaining traction as its storyline is tied to the disavowed 1946 film 'Song of the South'.

Transcript

00:00Some are calling on Disney to rebrand one of its classic rides, Splash Mountain,

00:04as it's based off arguably the company's most controversial film, Song of the South.

00:08But the company has remained mum on the outcry so far.

00:11Amid the ongoing worldwide anti-racism protests in the wake of the May 25th killing of George Floyd,

00:17a number of discussions have taken place about previously accepted symbols of historical division in America.

00:22Disney has found itself in the middle of the debate due to Splash Mountain,

00:26the log ride featured at a number of its theme parks.

00:28The ride is intertwined with the 1946 film Song of the South.

00:32A movie so overtly out of touch and racist, Disney chairman and former CEO Bob Iger

00:36made it a point to note the film would never be available for purchase or made to stream on Disney+.

00:41As for Splash Mountain, a number of petitions are floating around online,

00:45at least one with some 21,000 signatures, calling for the ride to be rebranded for The Princess and the Frog.

00:51The celebrated 2009 animated film features a black female protagonist.

00:55Disney is no doubt aware of the Splash Mountain pushback with media reports.

00:59Multiple requests for comment from The Hollywood Reporter were not returned.

01:03Disney has a complicated relationship with Song of the South and its products,

01:06according to J.D. Connor, USC School of Cinematic Arts associate professor whose courses include Disney After Walt.

01:12Connor told THR,

01:13There is absolutely no reason that the ride had to be about Song of the South.

01:17It's just a generic log flume ride that could be about anything wet.

01:21Altering a ride for its out-of-date overtones is not foreign to Disney,

01:24which in 2017 updated the classic Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at Disneyland due to sexist moments like a bride auction.

01:31Disneyland and Disney World have been shuttered since mid-March due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

01:35They are set to reopen in July.

01:38For more on this story and the latest updates, head to THR.com.

01:41For The Hollywood Reporter News, I'm Tiffany Taylor.