Jungle Cruise has been criticised for a “blink-and-you’ll-miss-it” coming out scene involving Jack Whitehall’s character.
According to Variety, his character – Emily Blunt’s brother and assistant in the film – says he broke off several engagements as his “interests happily lay elsewhere”.
Several fans took to social media to condemn the scene, criticising Disney for the lack of “genuine representation” when it comes to LGBTQ+ characters.
“A blink-&-you’ll-miss-it moment,” tweeted one person. “Disney doesn’t care about genuine representation, & that has been proven time & time again.”
A scene that will either be a blink-&-you’ll-miss-it moment or will be cut out of the film entirely in order to please the Chinese government & homophobic Christian conservatives. Disney doesn’t care about genuine representation, & that has been proven time & time again. https://t.co/v3EkbLNQQ6
— Ethan Capps ☮️ (@EMC4478) July 26, 2021
“Disney continually wants prizes for doing the bare minimum,” another wrote, while one person added: “Disney will really do anything to avoid using the word ‘gay’ in its mainstream content won’t it”
Disney continually wants prizes for doing the bare minimum https://t.co/S2CZD6euwm
— Eli 🔭 (@CallanCove) July 26, 2021
Disney will really do anything to avoid using the word 'gay' in its mainstream content won't it
via https://t.co/XTL6SAWqWR pic.twitter.com/CaE9Dq6Ic6
— Declan Cashin (@Tweet_Dec) July 26, 2021
Playwright Jeremy O Harris also shared his thoughts on the casting of Jack Whitehall, criticising Disney for not casting openly gay actors.
“Dear @Disney I am gay & funny & evil… I know other evil funny gays,” he wrote. “I spent a lot of money at Disneyland this year so it would be cool to work on one of your movies so I could get that money back and also help Disney be gayer.”
Dear @Disney I am gay & funny & evil…I know other evil funny gays. I spent a lot of money at disneyland this year so it would be cool to work on one of your movies so I could get that money back and also help Disney be gayer.
Thank you,
JOH (evil gay lower tier velvet mafia)
— MOST TONY NOMINATED ONEHIT WONDER Jeremy O. Harris (@jeremyoharris) July 26, 2021
In a four-star review of Jungle Cruise, NME wrote: “Glowing with golden-age romance and buzzing with Marvel-age pizzazz, Jungle Cruise is everything summer blockbusters used to be and a whole lot they never were.
“Is this the start of a whole new Pirates-style franchise? Let’s hope so.”
The film is released in UK cinemas this Friday (July 30).