Last week, people were up in arms after some social media users pointed out that A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving was racist.
Many viewers were upset that about a scene involving Franklin, the only African-American character, being left to sit himself on one side of the table while the rest of his friends grouped together on the other sides.
The critics also noticed that the young boy was seated in a lawn chair while all his friends had proper dining chairs.
Whether or not this was done intentionally remains to be answered, but now it seems like people may already found their next target.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which has been airing over the Christmas season since 1964, is under fire for its supposedly "disturbing" themes.
For those who aren't familiar with this classic, the story revolves around Rudolph, a misfit who has been cast from the reindeer games because he looks different.
But it turns out, he and his team of outcasts, including Hermey (the elf who wants to become a dentist) and the Abominable Snow Monster, can save the day when Santa's sleigh gets fogged in.
While the 30-minute childhood favorite has always been regarded as heart-warming, not everyone is perceiving that way.
Some people found Hermey's obsession with dentistry creepy, and went as far as labeling him a "sadistic psychopath." Others argued that the way the profession is portrayed is "dentist shaming."
But nothing ticked viewers off more than when they realized that Santa was a bully in the movie.
My saddest takeaway in #RudolphTheRedNosedReindeer is how dismissive & mean #santa is when they first the red nose. Really Santa?!?! 😢
— Beth Farnham (@bethfarnham) November 28, 2018
Nothing says holiday spirit quite like dissecting #RudolphTheRedNosedReindeer and realizing almost everyone is an ass. Comet legit encouraged bullying and exclusion. pic.twitter.com/ldmxOv0cqz
— Ashley E. Armstrong (@AshleyEANews) November 28, 2018
I can even buy into his father being terrible , but SANTA? That's messed up. #RudolphTheRedNosedReindeer #Rudolph
— Melanie J (@mel_jando) November 28, 2018
"All right all right!, we are not going to let Rudolph join in anymore reindeer games..." Bastard... Always hated the gym teachers.. Santa was an A-Hole too. #RudolphTheRedNosedReindeer pic.twitter.com/Py1z5W1Tnn
— Bob Marsdale (@BobMarsdale) November 28, 2018
Oh no. It's #RudolphTheRedNosedReindeer I don't have strength to watch this again. Those poor elves. That bully with the whip. Abusive deer. Dentist shaming. Unloved toys. It's too much.
— MJ Caan (@MJCaan) November 28, 2018
Of course, not everyone agrees with these observations, with many quickly coming to the special's defense and pointing out that Rudolph overcoming adversity is the whole point of the story.
That's the whole point of it. Learning acceptance of others and ourselves.
— Joshua James Herbert (@JoshuaJamesHerb) November 29, 2018
A story of misfits becoming the heroes is now bad.
— James #PPC (@greentsunamii) November 29, 2018
Please give your heads a shake. This is way too far.
Many intelligent folk on the internet. Not mamy have the wisdom to use it.
THIS WAS THE EARLY 60'd DIFF TIME/ CULTURE! THE POINT WAS TO OVER COME BULLYING AND ACCEPT YOURSELF NO MATTER WHAT OTHERS THOUGHT AND HE GAINED CONFIDENCE IN HIMSELF AND BECAME THE STAR REINDEER AND EVERYONE PUT HIS DIFFERENCE TO THE SIDE AND ACCEPTED HIM FOR WHO HE WAS! STOP
— SiSi (@sierralee03) November 29, 2018
Stop trying to ruin Christmas.
— Lindsay (@lsteidz) November 29, 2018
All the characters who are wrong are ultimately shown to be wrong and the outcasts actually had something to offer with their uniqueness.
— Jeff NinjaFox (@SwiftNinjaFox) November 29, 2018
Yeah, that's really a problematic story. Imagine showing adversity and that some people have narrow views and are wrong for it.
The horror.
While some of the criticism may have been meant to be funny, there definitely people out there who are really uncomfortable with some parts of Rudolph's story.
But at the end of the day, we can't let other people tell us how we should feel about something, so it's up to you to decide if your family will be watching it or not.
