14 Cartoon Characters Who'd Be Problematic Today
These 14 cartoon characters would likely face backlash today due to outdated stereotypes, insensitive portrayals, or problematic behaviors that clash with modern values.
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
Cartoons from past decades reflect the cultural attitudes of their time, but many beloved characters haven’t aged well under today’s more inclusive and socially aware lens. Whether it’s casual sexism, racial caricatures, or jokes that trivialize serious issues, these characters expose the blind spots of older animation. Looking back at them reveals how far we’ve come in media representation — and how far we still need to go.
1. Speedy Gonzales – Looney Tunes
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Speedy Gonzales was once banned for perpetuating Mexican stereotypes, including exaggerated accents and depictions of laziness among other mice. While some Latino viewers defend him as a rare positive portrayal of cleverness and pride, his cultural representation remains a hot topic. Today, his character would likely require significant revisions to avoid offending modern audiences.
2. Pepe Le Pew – Looney Tunes
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Pepe Le Pew’s behavior has long been called out for normalizing sexual harassment, as he relentlessly pursues a female cat who clearly tries to escape him. His character turns refusal into a joke, which feels deeply inappropriate today. Warner Bros. has since pulled back his presence due to changing social norms.
3. Mammy Two Shoes – Tom and Jerry
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Mammy Two Shoes was a caricatured Black maid, often shown with exaggerated speech and limited agency. She embodies the “mammy” stereotype that’s now widely regarded as offensive and reductive. In later reruns, her voice and portrayal were heavily edited or removed altogether.
4. The Siamese Cats – Lady and the Tramp
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Si and Am are infamous for their buck-toothed, slanted-eyed design and exaggerated Asian accents. Their musical number plays into every tired stereotype of East Asians being sly, sneaky, and foreign. In recent remakes, these characters were replaced to avoid backlash.
5. Jabberjaw – Hanna-Barbera Productions
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Jabberjaw was a talking shark with a routine of whining about being unappreciated, delivered in a voice reminiscent of Curly from The Three Stooges. His constant need for attention and overly dramatic reactions feel out of touch today, especially given his stereotypical portrayal of nagging and emotional instability. He reinforces negative caricatures that would likely face criticism now.
6. Miss Bellum – The Powerpuff Girls
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Miss Bellum is the hyper-sexualized assistant whose face is never shown, existing more as a curvy silhouette than a real character. Her design reduces a capable woman to her body, reinforcing dated gender norms. In reboot versions, her role was removed entirely due to concerns about objectification.
7. Johnny Bravo – Johnny Bravo
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Johnny Bravo is the epitome of toxic masculinity played for laughs, constantly hitting on women with sleazy pick-up lines and being physically pushy. Though meant to be a satire, the jokes often land uncomfortably close to actual harassment. Modern audiences might not find his brand of humor so funny anymore.
8. Uncle Ruckus – The Boondocks
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Uncle Ruckus is a self-hating Black man who spouts racist rhetoric against his own community. While The Boondocks uses satire, the extremity of his dialogue can be jarring and uncomfortable in today’s sensitive climate. Critics debate whether his scenes spark meaningful critique or just recycle harmful stereotypes.
9. Shaggy – Scooby-Doo
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Shaggy’s perpetual munchies, zoned-out demeanor, and speech patterns have long been interpreted as a veiled depiction of marijuana use. Though never confirmed, the implication plays into stoner stereotypes. In a modern children’s show, this portrayal would likely draw criticism from parents and media watchdogs.
10. Captain Caveman – Hanna-Barbera Productions
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Captain Caveman is a shaggy, club-wielding brute who communicates in grunts and simple phrases. While humorous in the ’70s and ’80s, today he may be viewed as making light of neurodivergence or portraying primitive behavior in a way that mocks evolution or mental disability. The concept feels outdated and potentially insensitive.
11. Foghorn Leghorn – Looney Tunes
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Foghorn Leghorn is a loud, overbearing Southern rooster who talks in outdated regional idioms and often belittles others. His patronizing tone and casual sexism might not sit well with audiences today. While not the most offensive on the list, his character reflects a dated archetype that hasn’t aged gracefully.
12. Elmer Fudd – Looney Tunes
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Elmer Fudd is a cartoon hunter with a gun who spends most episodes trying to shoot Bugs Bunny. In a post-Columbine, post-Sandy Hook era, having a comedic children’s character brandish firearms is seen as highly inappropriate. Modern adaptations have even removed his gun to avoid glamorizing violence.
13. Native American Character – Peter Pan (1953)
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The “What Made the Red Man Red?” scene features exaggerated accents, red skin tones, and demeaning portrayals of Native Americans. This depiction is widely regarded as racist and damaging. Disney has since placed warnings on the film and removed the scene from children’s profiles on Disney+.
14. Scrappy-Doo – Scooby-Doo
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Though not offensive in the traditional sense, Scrappy-Doo represents a kind of forced, hyperactive energy that producers thought kids wanted. His aggressive nature and eagerness to fight overshadowed the original show’s charm. Today’s audiences prefer more nuanced, emotionally grounded side characters.