When The Country Bear Musical Jamboree Reopened in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom to guests on July 17th, many flocked to Grizzly Hall expecting to see some of their favorite characters like Big Al, Henry Taylor, and Trixie St. Claire.
The gangs still all here, with one notable exception.
Concept art for Country Bear Musical Jamboree at Walt Disney World via Disney Parks blog
Liver Lips McGrowl, one of the original country bear characters dating back to the opening day of the Magic Kingdom received something of a makeover, sporting a new blonde wig and a brand new name. The classic park-specific character is now called Romeo McGrowl.
RIP Liver Lips McGrowl #CountryBears pic.twitter.com/YoG461wYRg
— Bill Ahern (@BillAhern212) July 17, 2024
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The name change for McGrowl seems to stem from Disney’s ongoing commitment toward political correctness. Apparently the name “Liver Lips” is considered offensive to those with alcohol dependency.
According to Inside The Magic, “The term ‘liver lips’ is considered derogatory and offensive, as it is associated with excessive alcohol consumption and the resulting liver damage. The phrase is deemed to be insensitive and outdated, prompting Disney’s decision to modify the character.”
Romeo McGrowl in the Country Bear Musical Jamboree at Walt Disney World via Disney Parks blog
There has never been any kind of public outcry against Liver Lips McGrowl in the 50+ years that the character has existed within the Magic Kingdom. This seems to be another instance of Disney taking matters into their own hands to scrub the parks of elements that it finds outdated or “problematic.” We’ve seen a number of changes in recent years to classic attractions that were meant to bring these experiences more in line with “modern thinking.
Most notably, Splash Mountain (a beloved attraction deemed racist by Disney executives) was replaced with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (an attraction that spends large portions of each day closed down due to technical issues). Disney also removed perceived “problematic” elements of Pirates of the Caribbean, replacing the auction scene and “the red head” with a stolen goods auction and a female pirate. It also altered scenes in which pirates were chasing women to showcase women chasing pirates.
Concept art for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
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Disney has an entire division of the company called “Stories Matter,” which is dedicated to altering older content and ensuring that current content meets some kind of social morality level determined by the company.
“We can’t change the past, but we can acknowledge it, learn from it and move forward together to create a tomorrow that today can only dream of,” the Stories Matter division says on its official company website.
“We are reviewing our offerings beyond the screen, which include products, books, music and experiences,” the Stories Matter company page goes on to say. “While advisories for negative depictions of people and cultures may be added to some offerings, others will be reimagined. We are also investing in new ways to better reflect the rich diversity of stories in our world. This work is ongoing and will evolve as we strive toward a more inclusive tomorrow.”
Gomer in the Country Bear Musical Jamboree at Walt Disney World via Disney Parks blog
This division also takes credit for the following disclaimer appearing on Disney+ content like Peter Pan, The Aristocats, Dumbo, and Swiss Family Robinson.
“This program includes negative depictions 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 conversation to create 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, please visit www.disney.com/StoriesMatter.”
Teddi Barra in the Country Bear Musical Jamboree at Walt Disney World via Disney Parks blog
Do you agree with Disney removing the name of a classic character based on perceived political correctness? Should the Stories Matter division of Disney continue to slap disclaimers on content and make sweeping changes through the company? Should this division of Disney even exist? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
Marvin the Movie Monster is a YouTube commentator and personality specializing in movies, TV, video games, and professional wrestling. He can be found on his channels Tooney Town TV and Tooney Town Wrestling with daily content and weekly livestreams. He can also be found on That Game Place, the That Park Place video game channel.
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