Disney Boss Bob Iger Says 'Offensive' Song Of The South Won't Be On Disney+

Disney boss Bob Iger has said that controversial movie Song of the South won't be appearing on its streaming service Disney+.

The film, made in 1946, is set on a plantation in Georgia after the end of the American Civil War - it has been slammed for being racist and offensive due to its depictions of black people and the language used.

Disney fans were unclear if it would be included on the new streaming platform alongside a disclaimer that it contains 'outdated cultural depictions', which is the case with Dumbo - another Disney flick that has been accused of being racist and dated.

However, speaking at Disney's annual shareholders meeting, executive chairman Iger said the film was 'not appropriate in today's world' and won't be re-released or added to the platform.

When asked he said: "I've felt, for as long as I've been CEO, that Song of the South - even with a disclaimer - was just not appropriate in today's world.

"Given the depictions in some of those films, to bring them out today without some form or another, without offending people. So we've decided not to do that."

He also addressed the fact some other older films, including short films Victory Through Air Power and Follow Me Boys, were still not available, admitting that digitalising some of the older titles had been more difficult than they had thought.

Iger went on to say that Disney 'couldn't get everything on' and that 'not everything' would be available on Disney+, despite saying previously that 'the entire Disney library' would be on the streaming platform.

Disney+ is set to launch in the UK on 24 March and will feature a bunch of new content from franchise such as Star Wars and Marvel as well as a staggering back catalogue.

And when I say 'staggering', I mean 7,500 television episodes and 500 films, including 30 seasons of The Simpsons alongside classic Disney and Pixar movies.

Iger previously promised fans the full back catalogue would be on Disney+ 'at some point fairly soon after launch,' adding that 'the movies that you speak of that traditionally have been kept in a 'vault' and brought out basically every few years will be on the service'.

Featured Image Credit: Disney

Topics: Disney, TV and Film

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19