Writer Calls For 'Feminist Endings' To Disney Fairytales, Describing Aladdin As 'Racist'

A feminist writer has called for Disney fairytales to be 'retold', arguing that many of the classics are racist and sexist.

Scarlett Curtis, who is the daughter of Love Actually writer, Richard Curtis, said the films give children an 'unrealistic expectation' of life and encourage girls to pursue a 'fairytale ending' and find their 'Prince Charming'.

She also said the depiction of Disney princesses as 'thin, subservient, white women who get whisked off their feet by white men' is harmful.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, she said: "The originals were actually very dark and had a lot of sad endings. And then we had some that had happy endings. And now we could have some that have feminist endings.

"I also think Aladdin is a little bit racist and has issues with cultural appropriation.

"I think something like Aladdin is an inappropriate representation of a culture that was created completely by white people, kind of orientalising this culture. And I also think you can say [it's] political correctness gone mad and you can say freedom of speech, but you're talking about little young girls."

The criticism comes after Keira Knightley revealed that she doesn't let her three-year-old daughter watch certain Disney films. The 33-year-old explained her reasoning while promoting her new Disney film, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms.

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Speaking on The Ellen Show, she said: "Cinderella is banned, because she waits around for a rich guy to rescue her - don't, rescue yourself, obviously.

"And this is the one I'm quite annoyed about because I really like the film, Little Mermaid. The songs are great but do not give your voice up for a man, hello?"

A poll on Good Morning Britain found that 92 percent of viewers didn't agree with Knightley's decision to ban her daughter from watching the films.

Knightley is not the only Disney star to object to particular Disney films. Kristen Bell, the star of smash hit, Frozen, said she realised Snow White normalised kissing without consent as she read the fairytale to her children.

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Speaking to the Parents website, she said: "Don't you think that it's weird that the prince kisses Snow White without her permission? Because you can not kiss someone if they're sleeping!"

On Twitter, many people have objected to the criticism of Disney fairytales and princesses.

One user said: "I'm really sick of actresses using their platforms to talk poorly about Disney princesses who stand for kindness, bravery, perseverance and hope thanks for coming to my Ted Talk."

Topics: sexism, Racism, Disney

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey