Amazon Prime has added a disclaimer before the “Tom and Jerry” cartoon warning viewers of potential exposure to ethnic and racist prejudices in the show.
“Tom and Jerry shorts may depict some ethnic and racial prejudices that were once commonplace in American society,” Amazon Prime’s disclaimer states. “Such depictions were wrong then and are wrong today.”
“Tom and Jerry’s” comedic fighting first began entertaining its viewers in 1940, and the Warner Brothers cartoon has won seven Academy Awards for Animated Short Films.
The cat-and-mouse show has been criticized over the years for its portrayal of women, the glamorization of smoking, racial stereotypes and even cannibalism.
Like most topics that involve racism, Twitter users can’t help but share their opinions.
Did @amazon really call #TomandJerry racist? Grow a spine, people. It's a show about ANIMALS.
— Zoë Rae (@zoyarae) October 2, 2014
“I loved 'Tom and Jerry' as a kid and it never made me think poorly of ethnic minorities or want to smoke cigars.” http://t.co/2Jo1s5WRHZ …
— Tannaz Ebadollahi (@tannazebd) October 2, 2014