Space Jam director who created Disney’s woke cartoon says he’s THRILLED to ‘stoke the conversation’

The creator of Disney+ show The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder said he is thrilled by the backlash against the cartoon – which has been branded ‘anti-white propaganda’.

Disney was slammed for going woke yet again after the cartoon featured black children rapping about reparations and saying, ‘slaves built this country’.

Bruce W. Smith, 61, created the show in 2001, and has since rebooted it for a comeback on the streaming platform this year. 

After witnessing the backlash, Space Jam co-director Smith tweeted: ‘Why the fear? We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to stoke the conversation.’

He retweeted a comment on a video showing the kids in the show peacefully protesting when the cops in riot gear show up.

It said: ‘Republicans are losing their minds, calling on Americans to Boycott Disney because of this scene from a Disney cartoon ‘The Proud Family’.

‘They are literally mad that kids are learning that slaves helped build our nation. What the hell are they afraid of?’

Smith also liked a comment which said: ‘Everyone so surprised that Proud family did this. 

‘Y’all forget the original had episodes about segregation, discrimination post 9/11 of middle eastern folks and an episode about the F slur/bullying gay kids? 

‘C’mon now. Proud family isn’t ‘suddenly woke’ now.’

Smith, who co-directed the Warner Bros live-action and animated movie Space Jam, first joined Disney in 1988 and worked as an animator on Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

He returned to Disney after Space Jam to supervise the animation of Tarzan and the Emperor’s New Groove.

From there, he supervised animation of The Princess and the Frog, Winnie the Pooh and was the lead animator on Tangled Ever After – a Disney short.

He also worked on Wreck-it Ralph and Frozen, and co-directed the 2019 Academy Award®-winning animated short Hair Love.

Smith also won the Annie Awards Winsor McCay Award for career contributions to animation in 2021, and is currently signed to an overall deal with Walt Disney Television Animation with Ralph Farquhar. 

The episode which sparked outrage shows characters discovering that their town was built by slaves and then giving a presentation to their school.

As part of the rap, which as been branded ‘blatant anti-white propaganda’, a white character is seen standing on a stage with a poster that says ‘still not atoned’.

It is echoing the current situation in California, with a reparations board insisting that every long-term black resident get $5million in reparations.

During the episode the characters, who are predominantly black, rule that Abraham Lincoln had no desire to end slavery – and so stage a petition to get his statue removed.

Disney claim that the show ‘follows the adventures and misadventures of newly 14-year-old Penny Proud and her Proud Family as they navigate modern life with hilarity and heart.’

But it has sparked a major backlash with viewers, who have accused the broadcasting giant of ‘beaming woke BLM propaganda straight into your living rooms’.

Others started using the hashtag #BoycottDisney after watching the footage, which also depicts police officers in riot gear turning up at their protest.

In the episode Penny learns the meaning of Junteenth, and discovers a ‘terrifying truth’ about the town – that it was founded by a slave owner.

Part of the rap on the show, which is aimed at a younger audience, says: And we, the descendants of slaves in America, have earned reparations continue.

‘And continue to earn reparations every moment we spend submerged in the systemic prejudice, racism, and white supremacy that America was founded with and still has not atoned for.’

Once the scene is over, the rest of the school erupts into applause, and then a protest over Abraham Lincoln is planned – with the characters deciding something needs to be done.

They were shocked to discover that ‘Lincoln was not against slavery’ and questioned why they were not told this before.

In another scene the kids are peacefully protesting when the cops in riot gear show up.

A basketball-spinning black man says then says to the group: ‘Officers, please put these little kids in cuffs, y’all. Audience, no photos, please.’

It turns into a standoff between the cops and the children, with one yelling ‘stand your ground’ and a police officer pushing a black bystander.

One viewer said the was ‘nothing short of woke propaganda’ while another said ‘imagine paying money to Disney to teach your kids to hate themselves and hair their country’.

 

Disney and The Proud Family publicist did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.

The show has also been praised for including an autism diagnosis for one of the characters, with one person tweeting that it wasn’t ‘suddenly woke’.

It is the latest accusation to be leveled at the Florida-based company for being too ‘woke’.

The giant has taken numerous strides to become more inclusive in recent years including changing park policy to stop staff from using gendered greetings, and implementing an anti-racism training course for employees.

They have also given old characters progressive makeovers, and removed offensive imagery from rides and movies.

It included a gay kiss between two female characters in the movie Lightyear, and black actress Halle Berry was cast as Ariel in its upcoming, live-action re-make of The Little Mermaid.

Billionaire investor Nelson Peltz, recently declared war on the company’s ‘excessive spending and mismanagement.’

The 80-year-old – whose daughter Nicola is married to Brooklyn Beckham – is now battling to secure a board seat, setting the stage for a spectacular showdown between him and returning CEO Bob Iger.

In January 2022, Disney debuted a ‘woke’ new look for Minnie Mouse, which saw the beloved character abandoning her signature red polka-dot dress in favor of a ‘progressive’ blue pantsuit designed by Stella McCartney.

Disneyland Paris unveiled the iconic character’s new outfit via Twitter, announcing that Minnie had undergone a high-fashion makeover in honor of its 30th anniversary.

The giant has also been embroiled in a row with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis – with the spat starting over the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill.

Since 1967, Disney has been responsible for the governance of an area known as Reedy Creek, which is partly within Orange and Osceola counties.

Critics say the arrangement gives the firm special legal and tax privileges.

DeSantis launched an effort to upend Disney’s self-governing powers after the company’s former CEO, Bob Chapek, condemned Florida’s Rights in Education Bill, termed the Don’t Say Gay bill, which limits teaching about sex and gender identity in the state’s classrooms.

In January a notice posted to the website of Osceola County said the legislation would be introduced to create a state-controlled board for Reedy Creek.

DeSantis’ communications director, Taryn Fenske, told Fox News: ‘The corporate kingdom has come to an end.

‘Under the proposed legislation, Disney will no longer control its own government, will live under the same laws as everyone else, will be responsible for their outstanding debts, and will pay their fair share of taxes.

‘Imposing a state-controlled board will also ensure that Orange County cannot use this issue as a pretext to raise taxes on Orange County residents.’

The author of Florida’s controversial Don’t Say Gay bill told DailyMail.com in December that the state will not back down in its fight against Disney.

Florida State Rep. Randy Fine also said that for the media behemoth to repair its relationship with Florida, the studio must stop producing woke movies.

Disney CEO Bob Iger made a shocking return to the role in November after it was reported board received multiple complaints about Chapek.

Chapek was reportedly chided for Disney’s muddled reaction to the Don’t Say Gay bill. The company initially didn’t comment on the bill but under pressure, Chapek eventually condemned it.