The change concerns the film’s repeated usage of a derogatory term originally used by white Europeans
Published February 26, 2024 4:02PM (EST)
Actress Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke in a scene from the movie “Mary Poppins” (Donaldson Collection/Getty Images)
Nearly 60 years after its release, “Mary Poppins” has been reclassified by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) because it features “discriminatory language,” the BBC reported.
The film, which stars Julie Andrews in the titular role, has been raised from a U rating (synonymous to a G rating) to a PG rating. The change is due to the film’s usage of “Hottentot,” a derogatory term for the Khoikhoi — the traditionally nomadic pastoralist indigenous population of South Africa — originally used by Dutch settlers. The term is said twice by Admiral Boom, who first mentions it while conversing with one of the Banks children, and then uses it as a descriptor for the chimney sweeps with soot-covered faces.
“We understand from our racism and discrimination research…that a key concern for…parents is the potential to expose children to discriminatory language or behavior which they may find distressing or repeat without realizing the potential offense,” a BBFC spokesperson told the Daily Mail. “Content with immediate and clear condemnation is more likely to receive a lower rating.”
The rating change only affects the cinema version of the film. The home entertainment versions are still rated U, according to the BBFC.
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