Disney Removes Content Warning from Disney+ Films Like “Dumbo”

Disney has quietly removed the autoplay content “trigger warning” from its Disney+ streaming service, scaling back its approach to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The warning, which previously played before select movies and TV shows, directed viewers to a now-defunct webpage for the “Stories Matter” group. In the warning, Disney outlined their commitment to acknowledging and learning from past negative depictions.

Instead of the full-screen, unskippable disclaimer, content advisories have now been relegated to the “Details” tab of each film or show. The updated advisory now states:

“This program is presented as originally created and may contain stereotypes or negative depictions.”

This marks a departure from the original warning, which explicitly called out harmful stereotypes and directed viewers to Disney’s Stories Matter webpage, which has since been taken down.

“This program includes negative depitions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. Rather than remove this content, we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversations to creat a more inclusive future together.
Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe.

To learn more about how stories have impacted society visit: www. Disney.com/StoriesMatter”

What Was Disney’s “Stories Matter” Initiative?

Before its removal, the Stories Matter initiative was Disney’s effort to review its content library and address problematic depictions in classic films. The original webpage outlined the company’s goal of acknowledging, learning from, and sparking conversations about harmful representations in media.

As part of this initiative, Disney enlisted a team of external experts to help assess its content and provide guidance on authentic representation. Rather than removing films with outdated or offensive portrayals, Disney opted to add disclaimers and promote dialogue about cultural depictions in entertainment.

Disney also used the Stories Matter group in the theme parks.

One of the most visible examples was the reimagining of Splash Mountain into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, a transformation announced in 2020 and opened in 2024.

Before its removal, the Stories Matter webpage acknowledged the initiative’s reach beyond films, stating:

“We are reviewing our offerings beyond the screen, which include products, books, music and experiences. While advisories for negative depictions of people and cultures may be added to some offerings, others will be reimagined.”

In addition to Splash Mountain’s reimagining, other attractions such as Jungle Cruise and Peter Pan’s Flight have undergone updates to address controversial cultural depictions. The changes to Peter Pan’s Flight, for example, align with Disney’s broader efforts to ensure more thoughtful representation in both film and theme park experiences. However, the new scene in Peter Pan’s Fight features characters not in the film.

Where did the Stories Matter group go?

At this time, Walt Disney World has not provided a statement regarding the removal of the Stories Matter initiative or any future plans for DEI-related changes within the parks.

While past attractions have been adjusted, it remains to be seen whether Disney will continue making similar large-scale modifications to existing rides.

For now, Stories Matter is no longer a visible part of Disney’s official messaging—but its impact on past content and attractions remains for better or for worse.