Amazon, Apple Include Disclaimer Warning Viewers Of “Ethnic And Racial Prejudices” In ‘Tom And Jerry’

The moment when an elderly relative of yours uses a word that is completely unacceptable in today’s society (and was back then as well) that elicits an automatic cringe is likely a familiar, uncomfortable thing we’ve all experienced. So for all those watching a cartoon cat and mouse chase each other, smack each other around and generally taunt each other in the 1940s and 1950s, Apple and Amazon want to warn viewers that Tom and Jerry might say some questionable things, just like your Great Uncle George used to.

Amazon Prime Instant and iTunes both include a disclaimer before the cartoon shorts (though it’s unclear when it was added), reports The Wrap, warning viewers that the scenes “may depict some ethnic and racial prejudices that were once commonplace in American society.”

That doesn’t mean that it was okay back then, either, no matter who’s saying it, the disclaimer adds:

These animated shorts are products of their time. Some may depict some of the ethnic and racial prejudices that were commonplace in American society. These depictions were wrong then and are wrong today. While the following does not represent the Warner Bros. view of today’s society, these animated shorts are being presented as they were originally created, because to do otherwise would be the same as claiming these prejudices never existed.

This isn’t a new idea — Whoopi Goldberg narrates a similar pre-film disclaimer on the show’s DVD set from Warner Home Video:

Neither Apple nor Amazon responded to The Wrap’s request for comment.

‘Tom and Jerry’ Cartoons Slapped With Racist Warning (Update) [The Wrap]

by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist