In recent events, we’ve been seeing cartoon characters and other fictional characters coming under attack for being offensive. The fact is, there are certainly popular shows in the past that need to be examined for appropriateness, but some social media users and media personalities feel that things are being taken too far. I’ll keep my opinion out of it and just present the facts. First, it was the Looney Tunes character named Pepe Le Pew who was being canceled for sexual harassment and the glorification of rape culture. The cute little skunk relentlessly pursues his beloved lady skunk, to be sure.
Also, another Looney Tunes character has come under fire. Speedy Gonzales was called out by the same person who tried to cancel Pepe Le Pew in a New York Times op-ed. The author claimed that Speedy did his part to contribute to the “corrosive stereotype” of lethargic and drunk Mexican men. The author is Charles Blow and his piece for the New York Times suggested first that Dr. Seuss should be called out for some of his culturally inappropriate material. Blow pointed out that six of Dr. Seuss’s books were offensive, and his op-ed was successful because the books were pulled from production.
I am the voice of Speedy Gonzales in the new Space Jam. Does this mean they are gonna try to cancel Fluffy too? U can’t catch me cancel culture. I’m the fastest mouse in all of Mexico 💨 pic.twitter.com/Ov4wjO00kM
— G a b r i e l – I g l e s i a s (@fluffyguy) March 7, 2021
It was in the same op-ed that Pepe Le Pew and Seedy Gonzales were mentioned. As a result, Pepe was cut from the “Space Jam” movie that will be coming up in the near future. Pepe was going to appear in a scene in the movie as a bartender who starts hitting on a woman. Pepe has officially been canceled from that project and Warner Brothers doesn’t have Pepe anywhere in their future, apparently. Well, now people are going after Miss Piggy of “The Muppets” fame. Defenders of Pepe and Dr. Seuss are pointing out that Miss Piggy has been abusing her beloved, Kermit the Frog, for years.
Never thought I'd see the day when Pepe Le Pew would get cancelled. Can't wait to see Miss Piggy cancelled for physical and emotional abuse toward Kermit. She's been karate chopping him since the 70's, poor little bastard. pic.twitter.com/A6BLDjmU0P
— Kage (@000Kage000) March 9, 2021
Social media users are saying that since the 1970s, Miss Piggy has been subjecting Kermit to emotional and physical abuse. To be honest, looking back at the storyline, it’s totally true. It seems that Disney+ is being proactive about the issue because they have a disclaimer on their site that says that viewers may see “negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures.” However, the network isn’t pulling the content down even though they note that it was “wrong then and are wrong now.” Their “hope” is that people learn from it and acknowledge it. Yeah, right. They don’t want to miss out on that money.
They canceled Pepe Le Pew? Wait til they hear about this guy. pic.twitter.com/bo34FnTjxm
— Rex Miller (@JahNestaWailer) March 11, 2021
Here’s a video explaining everything that’s going on.