Country Bear Jamboree Controversy Explained — Why Disney Changed The Name Of A Popular Theme Park Character

The Country Bears

TheCountry Bear Jamboreeavoided a tricky controversy in September 2023 when it rebranded and switch the name of a well - jazz graphic symbol in the animatronic ring . The Country Bear Jamboree is an animatronic melodious exhibit found in Magic Kingdom at both the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Tokyo Disneyland at Tokyo Disney Resort , though called Country Bear Theater in Japan . area Bear Jamboree first open in Walt Disney World on October 1 , 1971 , and was so well receive , plans were immediately made fora similar attraction in Disneyland(viaWDWMagazine ) .

That Disneyland fix was finally taken down , but Disney World ’s has been go strong since . One of the last attraction Walt Disney himself helped contrive , the Country Bear Jamboree is the inspiration of legendary Imagineer Marc Davis . Disney wanted an audio - animatronic concert attraction for a ski resort hotel he planned to progress , but the resort was altercate and Davis rather build up it for Walt Disney World . The show sport a striation of animatronic bears singing country songs as they move around the degree . A recent update to the attraction saw a renowned character revamped .

Disney Replaced “Liver Lips McGrowl” In The Country Jamboree Attraction After For Being Offensive

Liver Lips Is Considered A Derogatory Term In Some Circles

In September 2023 , it was declare that the " original " Country Bear Jamboree would be replaced with the " Country Bear Musical Jamboree " in 2024 ( viaWDWNT ) . The newfangled show is interchangeable to the old one but with the bear singing country - inspiredversions of classic Disney birdsong . Most of the bear are unchanged , but Disney did quietly change one bear . Liver Lips McGrowl was one of the original Country Bears , but he was replaced with Romeo McGrowlin the update interlingual rendition . Disney did not give an official reason for the alteration .

The Pirates of the Caribbean dealership has been massive for Disney , but that may not have been the shell after a box office dud in the early 2000s .

However , considering Disney ’s previous efforts to take out " potentially problematic " characters from its green , it ’s likely the companionship found Liver Lips McGrowl a potential job ( viaTheTimes).“Liver lips " is a slang terminus used to describe orotund , self-conceited lips , which are often linked with extravagant alcohol consumptionand liver damage . It has also been historically used as a racist term to stereotype Black people in America .

It ’s likely Disney did n’t want to risk romance controversy with a name that could be considered insensitive and outdated .

It ’s likely Disney did n’t need to put on the line court controversy with a name that could be deal insensitive and outdated . Instead , they replace Liver Lips McGrowl with Romeo McGrowl , who has the same recognizable Ameiurus Melas as Liver Lips , but now lark a sky - blasphemous jumpsuit and blond hair . He expect a little more like a Hank Williams - Rhinstone Cowboy - typebut plays the same part in the band .

Other Major Disney Parks Controversies Explained

Disney Rides And Attractions Are Frequently Updated And Reimagined

There have been many Disney Park controversies over the years . With multiple idea parks , inevitably , something is going to go wrong or is not going to age well in the decades since they were constructedand open up to the populace . In 2023 , Disney World closed the illustrious Splash Mountain drive after it was criticize for consume antiblack roots thanks to its association withSong of the South(viaNBCNews ) . It was reimagined asThe Princess and the Frogride called Tiana ’s Bayou Adventure .

In 2021 , the Imagineering squad at Disney updated the Jungle Cruise ride to remove negative depictions of indigene ( viaTime ) . In 2018 , Disney update the Pirates of the Caribbean attracter . The auction sale setting of the attracter in the first place had pirate sell off women for marriage . Now the plagiarist are sell off steal good ( viaVariety ) . Those are n’t the only issues that Disney has had to deal with at its parking lot , and it will probably have to keep cover with them . Like theCountry Bear Jamboreechange , any alteration are certain to be meet with controversy .