The beloved Christmas movie, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” has been called out as “seriously problematic” for its displays of bullying, racism, homophobia — not to mention verbal abuse, sexism, bigotry, lack of acceptance, and even exploitation of workers.
That’s what a video courtesy of the Huffington Post declared Wednesday, even calling the protagonist “Rudolph the Marginalized Reindeer” in its opening montage.
“Viewers are noticing the tale may not be so jolly after all,” the video’s text noted, “and they’re sharing their observations online.”
The holiday TV classic “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” is seriously problematic. 😳 pic.twitter.com/dOgqPF3bAP
— HuffPost (@HuffPost) November 29, 2018
“The holiday TV classic ‘Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer’ is seriously problematic,” the text of the Huffington Post tweet reads.
The clip flashed screenshots of a couple of tweets that take issue with the Rudolph storyline, with one calling it a “parable on racism & homophobia w/ Santa as a bigoted exploitative prick” and another accusing “Santa’s operation” of being “an HR nightmare” that’s “in serious need of diversity and inclusion training.”
Verbal abuse
“Former fans are pointing out Rudolph’s father verbally abuses him,” the video text indicates, showing a clip of Donner forcing his son Rudolph to wear a fake nose over his red schnoz in order to gain “self-respect.”
“You’ll like it and wear it!” he hollers at Rudolph.
Bullying
Everybody knows from the Rudolph song that the other reindeer called him names and laughed at him — but in the movie, even the reindeer coach piles on: “From now on, gang, we won’t let Rudolph join in any reindeer games, right?”
Bigotry
When a doe shows interest in Rudolph despite his red nose, she gets the big ‘ol stop sign from her “bigot” father who says “no doe of mine is going to be seen with a red-nosed reindeer.”
Sexism
When Rudolph’s mom wants to join Donner in search for their son who ran away in shame, he refused and said “no, this is man’s work.”
Lack of acceptance
Besides the terrible time Rudolph endured from others, the movie features an “outcast” elf who wants to be a dentist — and who gets berated (“you’ll never fit in!”) for such a thought. Not to mention all those misfit toys.
Exploitation of workers
“In the end, Rudolph & friends learn the bitter truth…” the video text says before noting yet another tweet screenshot which declares the movie teaches that “deviation from the norm will be punished unless it is exploitable.”
This writer’s perspective
For some reason the video leaves out the other part of the movie where characters come to realize the error of their ways — at least in the lack of acceptance department — and Rudolph emerges as the hero.
Here’s the whole movie:
Source: The Blaze
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