'Peter Pan & Wendy' Twitter Pissed Over Black Tinker Bell ... Would Rather Have New POC Characters
People think Disney's choice to make Tinker Bell Black in the upcoming "Peter Pan & Wendy" flick instead of making a new character for a person of color is a terrible move ... and now Twitter is up in arms over it -- what a shock.
In case you missed it, Disney dropped the trailer for the live-action film Tuesday, with fans getting a first look at Yara Shahidi as everyone's favorite pixie ... but a bunch of people are complaining about the switch-up, saying it feels like the company's more interested in image than inclusivity.
Twitter's in a frenzy over Yara's role -- with one person writing, "Disney loves to race swap these days instead of creating original and new characters that are POC."
Disney couldn’t care less about making new stories with Poc characters, they just put poc ppl to play white characters, and that shows 1) how lazy Disney is 2) how racist this is, it’s like they don’t think poc ppl deserve their own stories (beside like 3 animated movies?)
— Alex (he/they) (@tinyscribbles_) February 28, 2023 @tinyscribbles_
Another echoed that, saying Disney's more focused on race-swapping original characters as opposed to putting in the time to make a new product with a more diverse cast.
but tinker bells iconic look is literally the blonde hair n blue eyes. nothing wrong with the loose representation but why keep changing shit that already has a staple look
— ༺lin༻ (@melaniesteady) February 28, 2023 @melaniesteady
Others say Tinker Bell has always been known as a white girl with blonde hair and blue eyes -- and diverting from the original material isn't right.
As you know, Disney recently made this same move with "The Little Mermaid," casting Halle Bailey as Ariel.
Tenían a Dove Cameron para hacer de Tinkerbell 😩 https://t.co/fLd1TzbDIV pic.twitter.com/1WifBBbuj4
— ༒ 𝕷𝖎𝖌𝖊𝖎𝖆 𝕯𝖊𝖕𝖕 ༒ (@twiggywitch) February 28, 2023 @twiggywitch
As for who would make a great fit for Tink, Twitter's got that answer too -- a bunch of folks are saying longtime Disney Channel alum Dove Cameron would've filled the role perfectly.
The movie drops in late April ... and it appears Disney's now gotta brace for impact when it comes out.
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Ben Cooper In "Smart House" 'Memba Him?!
American actor Ryan Merriman was only 15 years old when he was cast as Ben Cooper -- the family's caretaker (following the death of his mother) who hacks into a contest and wins a virtual smart-house -- in the Disney film "Smart House" back in 1999.
Merriman shared the big screen with Katey Sagal as the virtual assistant who runs the Smart House, Pat, Katie Volding as Ryan's little sister, Angie, and Kevin Kilner as the recent widower, Nick.
Ryan also played the role of Kyle Johnson in Disney's "The Luck Of The Irish" and Adam Eddington in "A Ring Of Endless Light."
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Disneyland Superfan Makes It In Guinness Book 2,995 Consecutive Theme Park Visits
1:45 PM PT -- Jeff Reitz joined us on "TMZ Live" Friday, filling us in on his 8+ years hitting the theme park every day ... and talking about how his viral fame early on is part of what kept him moving towards his goal.
He says he never had the same day twice at Disneyland, oddly enough ... pointing out his love of photography mixed with the larger-than-life atmosphere the park offers became a connection that was a no-brainer.
A Disneyland superfan has etched his name in the Guinness Book of World Records -- by visiting the house of mouse nearly 3,000 times in a ROW!
50-year-old Jeff Reitz made his mark by hitting up the Anaheim resort a whopping 2,995 times consecutively, starting back in 2012 ... adding up to a total of 8 years, 3 months, and 13 days.
The Huntington Beach local and Disney fan told Guinness the idea started as a joke a decade ago when the park announced it would be holding a 24-hour event on Leap Day ... making it possible for him to spend 366 days at the park starting in 2012.
Clearly, it evolved from just a joke, though -- suddenly Jeff started picking up steam as the days went by, getting contacted by newspapers and radio stations to tell his story. He was even given a gift basket and declared an honorary citizen of the park after his first 366 days.
Jeff was hoping to reach the big 3K milestone, but his run was cut short in March 2020 when the park was shut down due to COVID restrictions ... but it's an accomplishment he's incredibly proud of nonetheless.
FYI -- Jeff quickly became a bit of a celeb in the parks, with other Disney fans and even cast members wanting to take photos and meet the guy.
Gotta admit you know you've made it when Chewbacca wants YOUR autograph. Congrats Jeff!
Originally Published -- 7:59 AM PT
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Patrick And Brittany Mahomes VIP Treatment At Disneyland ... After Super Bowl Win
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Patrick Mahomes' Super Bowl celebration went from hanging with some Chainsmokers to livin' it up with a mouse ... 'cause the champ and his crew were treated like royalty at Disneyland on Monday -- and TMZ Sports has the video!!
The Kansas City Chiefs superstar and his wife, Brittany, brought Sterling and Bronze for the family-friendly fun ... and they were escorted through the theme park in a car as a ton of fans lined up to get a glimpse of the quarterback.
Of course, it's a quick turnaround -- the crew was raging into the early morning just hours ago ... but it's a tradition, and Patrick and Brittany will have to nurse their assumed hangovers with "It's a Small World" blaring in their ears.
"Welcome to the happiest place on earth, Bronze and Sterling! ❤️," Patrick said alongside a pic of his family on social media -- showing his newborn son's face for the very first time.
No word on what's next for the new champs -- but we're hoping they get some electrolytes or an IV at some point!!
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Bob Iger All Of Disney Gets on Message ... SB Ad Celebrating 100 Years
Bob Iger is on a mission to make Disney profitable again -- so, for the Mouse House's centennial ... he made the entire company fall into formation to telegraph his vision.
As you might've heard by now, this year marks a big milestone for the mega-corporation... they're 100 years old, and BI -- who's the newly reinstated CEO once again -- whipped up a nifty little Super Bowl spot that's set to air during the game, which he also released early.
Today I want to share this video, which celebrates the @WaltDisneyCo's 100 year milestone. We are enormously grateful to our storytellers, our cast members and our fans. Thank you and enjoy. #Disney100 pic.twitter.com/LowCx9t2Iv
— Robert Iger (@RobertIger) February 12, 2023 @RobertIger
In an accompanying caption to the minute-and-a-half clip, Bob writes ... "Today I want to share this video, which celebrates the @WaltDisneyCo's 100-year milestone. We are enormously grateful to our storytellers, our cast members and our fans. Thank you and enjoy. #Disney100."
As for what's in the spot itself ... a highlight compilation reel full of snippets and stills from their massive vault of content over the years, which is mixed with footage of fans (especially little kids) dressed up as their favorite Disney characters and enjoying the parks.
You made this dream come true. #Disney100 pic.twitter.com/M0KiGSBp63
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) February 12, 2023 @MarvelStudios
It's a cool tribute to what Disney's offered/accomplished -- but what's even more striking (at least for the Twitter users of the world) is seeing just how big the Disney umbrella actually is ... as just about every single Disney-owned subsidiary tweeted this same video out.
They all also feature the exact same caption ... "You made this dream come true." All official Disney accounts -- touching everything from Marvel to Star Wars and Disney Animation to Pixar, as well as the different parks around the world -- have posted this, all in unison.
Habéis hecho este sueño realidad. #Disney100 pic.twitter.com/lK4QVmCUc8
— Disney España (@DisneySpain) February 12, 2023 @DisneySpain
If you scroll through the #Disney100 trend, you'll see just how many properties Disney owns ... it's upwards of at least a couple dozen, which puts Disney's reach into perspective. It also makes ya realize how big a load Iger's got on his plate when it comes to righting the ship.
ICYMI ... Iger was tapped once more late last year after Bob Chapek was pushed out -- this after the Board of Directors apparently felt he wasn't serving the company's best interests.
Since then, Iger has made some big business decisions to get the stock price back up ... including laying off thousands of employees and shifting the structure of the company to focus on creative storytelling from the ground up, while looking for more savings.
Iger has also hinted at the possibility of Hulu potentially getting the boot in a would-be sale -- so it sounds like he's considering any and everything to shore up cash ... this after a few years of Disney struggling to reap significant profits.
And don't get us started on all the culture war stuff Disney's been mired in of late -- that's another headache they've been dealing with ... and will probably continue to battle. Not to mention a proxy war he's in with overzealous board members -- a whole other problem.
At any rate, it's pretty clear where Iger's focus is with this SB spot here ... he wants to get back in touch with the creators, fans and workers, who kinda make this thing go 'round.
With the united front that's Disney showing, it seems he's back in the captain's chair and wants to communicate calm waters ahead. Gotta put that smile on, tough times be damned!
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ORLANDO BROWN Getting Mental Evaluation... Could Plead Insanity
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"That's So Raven" star, Orlando Brown is going to get his head checked to see if he's fit to stand trial in his Ohio criminal case ... opening the door to a possible plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.
According to legal docs obtained by TMZ, Brown's attorney is asking for a mental evaluation to see if the disgraced actor is mentally fit for trial.
Orlando's charged with aggravated menacing, a first-degree misdemeanor in Ohio, for his December arrest. The former Disney star previously pled not guilty, but the results of the evaluation could lead to Orlando changing that plea.
In the meantime, Orlando's on house arrest ... he was released from custody Friday after posting bond of about $25,000.
Orlando Brown Loses Movie Gig After Arrest, Friend Says He Has Mental Health Issue
TMZ broke the story ... Orlando was busted back in December after cops in Ohio say they responded to a call about a fight in progress between 2 men.
Cops say the alleged victim told officers Orlando came at him in a threatening manner while wielding a knife blade and hammer.
As we first reported, Orlando was living under the same roof as the alleged victim, who got him a movie role ... which Brown's since lost as a result of the alleged incident.
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Jealous BFF In 'Princess Diaries' 'Memba Her?!
American actress Heather Matarazzo was 18 years old when she first played the role of Lilly Moscovitz -- the jealous and insecure private school girl who is besties with a princess -- in "Princess Diaries" back in 2001.
Heather shared the big screen with Anne Hathaway as the responsible, nice and at times under-the-radar princess, Mia Thermopolis, the legendary Julie Andrews as the loving yet strict Queen and Mia's grandmother, Queen Clarisse.
In 2004, Matarazoo reprised her role in "Princess Diaries 2." You might also recall seeing her as Martha Meeks In "Scream 3" back in 2000, which she brought back just last year for "Scream 5."
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Amy Adams 'Disenchanted' on Film ... Winter Wonderland in Real Life!!!
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Amy Adams got a fairytale ending in her latest film, and it seems she's mirror-mirroring that off camera too ... hitting the slopes with her real-life family, and having a magical time.
The actress -- who recently starred in Disney's 'Disenchanted' -- was out skiing Sunday with her husband, Darren Le Gallo, and their daughter Aviana. They hit up the Mountain High Resort in Wrightwood, CA ... about a two-hour drive Northeast of central Los Angeles.
Amy probably would've gone unrecognized if she'd kept her goggles on -- with the low-key outfit she was wearing, she pretty much looked like any other female skier on the mountain.
However, it looks like she stopped at one point and popped off the eyewear for a little phone time ... and, at that point, it became clear a star was in the mix. Check out the photos -- Amy seems pretty jazzed to be out there ... flashing a big smile while she was on the horn.
Speaking of AA and DLG's kid ... she actually has a mini cameo in 'Disenchanted,' which is the long-awaited sequel to 2007's 'Enchanted' -- where Amy plays a storybook princess type who's zapped into the real world. In part 2, Aviana briefly appears in a town square scene.
Following in mom's footsteps, it seems ... and perhaps even following her ski tracks down the hill too. Happily ever after, indeed.
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Disney Park Patrons Flock to Splash Mountain Last Ride Before Shutdown
The days of 'Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah' at Disney parks in the U.S. are about to be long gone -- which is why folks are forming massive lines this weekend for a final go-around.
Tons of Disneyland & Disney World patrons posted photos/videos Saturday and Sunday that show them waiting for their chance to hop on a log and cruise through Splash Mountain one final time before it officially closes down for a re-imagining starting Monday.
Crazy rope crowds for Splash Mountain on its final day of operation at Magic Kingdom#SplashMountain pic.twitter.com/ihcTsxkBjK
— BlogMickey.com (@Blog_Mickey) January 22, 2023 @Blog_Mickey
The classic fan fave ride is going to be reworked into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure -- a riff off the movie 'The Princess and The Frog,' which features a New Orleans swampy setting. That version is expected to reopen sometime in 2024 ... so SM will go dark until at least then.
In light of this hiatus, ticket-buyers are flocking to the attraction like never before, with lines that stretch into entirely different sections of the park. We're talking hundreds of people.
— WDW News Today (@WDWNT) January 22, 2023 @WDWNT
Unclear how long the wait times are, but we imagine a couple hours at least. The riders don't seem to care though -- frankly, this is the last opportunity anyone is going to have to enjoy Splash Mountain as it originally was ... and it seems Disney fiends want their fill.
Splash Mountain has been around since the late '80s, and it's become a staple for many in any Disney park visit. The water ride is based on the 1946 live action/animated film 'Song of the South' ... and includes all the 'Br'er' characters from the movie -- Rabbit, Fox, Bear, etc.
We're thrilled to share Splash Mountain at @Disneyland & @WaltDisneyWorld will be completely reimagined with a new story inspired by an all-time favorite @DisneyAnimation film, “The Princess and the Frog.” Learn about what Imagineers have in development: https://t.co/HyKfdDSH3j pic.twitter.com/DV6476KAVX
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) June 25, 2020 @DisneyParks
The reason Splash Mountain is being remade at all is because the old movie and character have been called problematic -- namely, that they romanticize the old South and play into stereotypes about African-Americans, etc. It hasn't aged well in the 21st century.
There's been debate on whether Splash needed a facelift -- but this falls in line with other changes Disney has made to outdated rides in recent years. The times are a-changin'.🤷🏽♂️
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Allison In 'The Ultimate Christmas Present' 'Memba Her?!
American actress Hallee Hirsh was just 12 years old when she played the role of Allie Thompson -- the 13-year-old who finds a weather machine in the woods, which prevents bad weather from delaying Christmas -- in Disney's "The Ultimate Christmas Present" back in 2000.
Hirsh shared the big screen with Brenda Song as Allie's bestie, Sam Kwan, Spencer Breslin as Allie's younger brother, Joey Thompson, Greg Kean as Allie's father, Steve Thompson and John B. Lowe as Santa Claus.
Hallee also played the role of Rachel Greene as a child in "ER" as well as Daley in "Flight 29 Down."
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Orlando Brown Arrested For Domestic Violence Allegedly Swung Knife & Hammer at Brother
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9:35 AM PT -- We're told Matthew and Orlando are not actually blood brothers -- but that's what he told cops.
6:25 AM PT -- According to cops, Orlando's brother Matthew claims he allowed the actor to stay at a home he was renovating because Orlando is homeless -- and he didn't want him to go to a homeless shelter.
Matthew told officers Orlando was acting "crazy" inside the home, accusing him of raping his wife and then came at him with a broken off knife blade and a hammer in a threatening manner.
Matthew told cops Orlando was never able to physically strike him with the weapons, and eventually set them down.
More trouble for "That's So Raven" star Orlando Brown ... the actor's been arrested for domestic violence in Ohio.
A spokesperson for the Lima Police Department tells us they got a call about a fight in progress Thursday ... when they arrived, they came upon the former Disney star and arrested him for misdemeanor domestic violence.
It's unclear who called 911, but cops say Brown's conflict was with either a family member or another person living in the home. He's apparently been in the Ohio town for over a month -- with fans tweeting about seeing him around Lima.
Brown's online booking record shows the charge as "domestic violence - cause belief of imminent physical harm by threat of force."
As we've reported, OB's had a lot of problems with the law over the last few years. You'll recall he was busted in his underwear on an outstanding warrant back in 2018. He was also arrested previously for narcotics possession and alleged burglary.
He's also had some dealings with Dr. Phil -- including a time when some friends tried to stage an intervention for the actor.
Originally published -- 12:30 AM PT
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Guess Who This Swagged Out Kid Turned Into!
Before this cool kid on her rocking horse turned into an advocate, actress and singer ... she was just riding her toy horse til she couldn't anymore, looking like the coolest kid in her overalls and growing up in the Lone Star state.
After a successful career on Disney Channel, she worked her way into the music industry and has garnered over 364 million followers on Instagram. This A-lister has always killed her haters with kindness and has been recognized globally for her mental health advocacy.
Need one more clue? "Hands To Myself!"
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Minka Kelly & Dan Reynolds Fairytale Romance ... Hits the Happiest Place on Earth!!!
Minka Kelly and Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds are keeping their love fest going strong as the holidays approach, and what better place to show it off than the House of Mouse.
The newly-minted couple hit Disneyland this weekend for a very public outing, where they were cuddled up pretty much the entire time ... looking pretty smitten with one another.
DR was rocking a hoodie and an extra jacket and Minka had a pretty elaborate coat of her own with a pair of jeans and a baseball cap to top it all off.
It's definitely sweater weather in SoCal lately ... those winter temps are starting to set in -- below 65 degrees -- equivalent to the ice age for the area.
Anyway, Dan and Minka are continuing to embrace the cameras as boyfriend and girlfriend -- and they weren't shy at all about embracing each other either. Dan had his arm wrapped around Minka for much of their day date, and she was leaning into him a lot as well.
The two of them did all the Disney stuff you could imagine ... hitting rides, watching a parade and strolling through shops.
At one point while they sat for a meal with some friends in tow, Minka even snuck in a kiss on Dan's cheek. There was a lot of laughing and smiles between both of them -- so, yeah ... they look really happy together.
Unclear exactly how long the romance has been going on, but the first photos of them hanging out surfaced last month. Since then, they've been out and about all over town.
Something tells us there's mistletoe in the near future for these two.
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Chloe Simon In '102 Dalmatians' 'Memba Her?!
British-American actress Alice Evans was 32 years old when she was cast as Chloe Simon -- the probation officer and owner of dogs Dottie, Dipstick and their three puppies -- in Disney's adventure/comedy film "102 Dalmatians" back in 2000.
Evans shared the big screen with Glenn Close as the main antagonist who is rude and mean, Cruella de Vil, Ioan Gruffudd as the Second Chance animal shelter owner and Chloe's boyfriend, Kevin Sheperd, Tim McInnerny as Cruella's right-hand man (not necessarily by choice), Alonzo and Gérard Depardieu as the fashionista helping Cruella make her puppy fur coat, Jean-Pierre Le Pelt.
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Guess Who This Playful Kid Turned Into!
Before this cute kid on her yellow telly turned into an actress and model, she was just cooking up a storm in her kiddy kitchen and getting ready for Turkey Day while growing up in sunny Los Angeles.
This beauty enjoyed a nice Thanksgiving dinner next to Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw in a hit popular drama/sports movie, but in real life, you can find her at the dinner table with her uber-talented musician father.
Need one more clue? She starred in a Netflix series taking place in Paris!
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Elton John Disney+ Concert Closed Captioning Hack??? 'Donald Trump' Written in Broadcast
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Disney+ customers tuning in to watch Elton John from the comfort of their couch got some unwanted politics mixed in with their music ... all thanks to an apparent hack of the streaming service's closed captioning feature.
Viewers reported on several occasions the name "Donald Trump" mixed in with the captioned lyrics during Sunday night's live broadcast. It appears to have happened during the songs "Levon" and "Candle in the Wind."
One Twitter user wrote, "Disney will be firing someone. They snuck Donald Trump into the closed captioning of the Elton John Live concert for about 30 seconds and then started to delete it." Another said, "The caption on this Elton John concert said “Donald Trump” for like a full minute.
The show, from Dodgers Stadium, marked the last of the U.S. leg of Elton's farewell tour, before he hits Europe and other parts of the world. Elton was also joined by Dua Lipa and Kiki Dee during the event.
We've reached out to Disney, but so far, the company has not offered up an explanation as to what happened.