Golden Girls

[Sotiris]

I don't think this instance qualifies as blackface. Someone over at Disney is being overzealous.

Hulu Removes ‘The Golden Girls’ Episode Featuring Blackface
https://deadline.com/2020/06/hulu-the-g ... 202971999/

[Disney's Divinity]

I haven't read the link, but are they referring to the episode where Dorothy's son, Michael, is marrying an older, Black woman? If so, that was not blackface--Rose and Blanche have mud / masques on their faces... You can always retroactively find something to be pissed off about. I once saw a Facts of Life episode with Charlotte Rae using the R word to describe someone mentally handicapped (not as a joke); there's an episode of Will & Grace where Karen uses the F word to describe Jack (as a joke). Times change, language and terms change, what's acceptable changes; it should be recognized as something that should no longer happen in future media and a warning should be put at the beginning of these old episodes whenever they're viewed / aired and all that, but vaulting things for at-the-time unintended offenses is how you spur on evil people in the world who are just using this outrage for their own purposes. You make everyone and everything problematic until a lot of people in the middle who once would've tried to listen and be caring just stop listening to anything you say anymore because you come across as if you hate everyone and everything.

[Sotiris]

I haven't read the link, but are they referring to the episode where Dorothy's son, Michael, is marrying an older, Black woman? If so, that was not blackface--Rose and Blanche have mud / masques on their faces...

Yep, that's the one.

Times change, language and terms change, what's acceptable changes; it should be recognized as something that should no longer happen in future media and a warning should be put at the beginning of these old episodes whenever they're viewed / aired and all that, but vaulting things for at-the-time unintended offenses is how you spur on evil people in the world who are just using this outrage for their own purposes.

I'm also in favor of providing disclaimers or intros explaining and contextualizing controversial or outdated media instead of hiding them away or censoring them.

[Disney's Divinity]

The final Golden Girl has passed away. Rest in peace.

[blackcauldron85]

RIP Betty. I read that her last social media post was about her upcoming People magazine cover celebrating her 100th birthday.

[PatrickvD]

I really need this to come to Disney+. Still no word on that? Now would be the time.

Betty was an absolute icon. No one had such razor sharp comedic timing, both on and off script. Truly one of the greatest of all time.

[Disney's Divinity]

So are Disney the ones who own the rights to The Golden Palace and Empty Nest? I wish those shows would finally be put on DVD to have everything Golden Girls-related.

[Vlad]

In Romania, we do have it on Disney+. I'm still holding on to my DVDs though, cause with today's sensitivities, you never know what episodes they will begin to cut next. Such a pity they didn't release more substantial editions, with bonus features similar to Seinfeld.

[Sotiris]

Disney Celebrates ‘The Golden Girls’ 40th Anniversary With Wine, Pillows, Toys, Cheesecake Candles and a TV Special
https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/the-go ... 236468236/

[carolinakid]

In Romania, we do have it on Disney+. I'm still holding on to my DVDs though, cause with today's sensitivities, you never know what episodes they will begin to cut next. Such a pity they didn't release more substantial editions, with bonus features similar to Seinfeld.

Vlad, isn’t the episode where Blanche & Rose appear in “mud face” removed from syndication and Disney+ showings? Or at least that sequence is edited from the episode? I wonder what else is missing? I like the show but am not a super fan, so I don’t really know what else isn’t “woke” in 2025...

[UmbrellaFish]

Disney Celebrates ‘The Golden Girls’ 40th Anniversary With Wine, Pillows, Toys, Cheesecake Candles and a TV Special
https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/the-go ... 236468236/

I never noticed they couldn’t use lyrics from “Thank You For Being a Friend” in merch, but I could see that being a complicated rights issue. I have lots of Golden Girls merch— most of it is stuff other people have given to me, though. I’ll keep a lookout for anything with the song lyrics that I might want now, though (probs not that pillow, tbh!)!

Andrew Gold, the original singer and songwriter of the tune, was the son of Marni Nixon, the Hollywood ghost singer who dubbed Deborah Kerr in The King and I, Natalie Wood in West Side Story, Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady, and also June Foray’s singing as Grandmother Fa in Mulan.

[carolinakid]

And Marni was seen as well as heard in The Sound of Music 1965 as Sister Sophia.