Disney World makes huge change to beloved character after 50 years over fears name is offensive to alcoholics
The character has been part of Disney's Magic Kingdom for more than 50 years
Emily Brown
A new name is set to join the cast of Disney characters this month after the company decided to get rid of a longstanding character.
For more than 50 years, everyone who's visited Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in Florida has had the chance to experience The Country Bear Jamboree.
Made up of 18 Audio-Animatronic 'hilbilly bears', the show took place in an old-fashion theatre and promised 16 minutes of 'foot-stompin’ cele-bear-tion'.
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It certainly sounds like a great time, and the experience became a favorite for many Disney over the years.
However, in January of this year, Disney decided to give the longstanding show a revamp, closing the attraction and getting to work on refurbishments.
It was sad news for fans who had got used to seeing the singing bears, with one taking to Twitter to share their fond memories of the original show.
"Today’s a bittersweet day- after work, I’ll be headed to Magic Kingdom to visit some dear friends and say my goodbyes to the original 1971 version of The Country Bear Jamboree," they wrote. "I saw it for the first time when I was 3, and it’s been a favorite of mine ever since!"
The good news is The Country Bear Jamboree is officially open again today (17 July), though it has undergone some changes - one of the most noticeable being the disappearance of the name 'Liver Lips McGrowl'.
This particular bear was part of the original cast, but Disney has now changed his name over concerns it could cause upset.
The term has been associated with excessive alcohol consumption and the impacts it can have on the liver. It has also been associated with offensive racial stereotypes relating to prominent lips.
The Oxford English Dictionary notes that the term 'liver-lipped' is considered offensive, reporting that it is used in African American English and has been used as early as the 1840s.
In an effort to remove any potentially offensive terms from its show, Disney has now renamed Liver Lips McGrowl as 'Romeo McGrowl'.
The bear's appearance as largely unchanged, and he now appears with his new name and swooping blond hair on a poster for sparkling new version of The Country Bear Jamboree.
The official Disney Parks Blog reveals that the bears will now put on a 'new show that pays homage to the Opry-style shows of Nashville'.
"While the Country Bear Musical Jamboree will include easter eggs from the beginning to the end including a familiar tune fans may remember, the bears will sing new, reinterpreted Disney tunes in different genres of country music – like bluegrass, pop-country, Americana, rockabilly and other styles," it explains.
UNILAD have contacted Disney World for comment.