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Rudolph is facing controversy after some viewers deemed it inappropriate.

After the beloved Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer TV special aired recently on TV, the Huffington Post tweeted a video summarizing ways in which it could be seen as problematic.

The movie special first aired in 1964. People now feel that some themes are inappropriate today.

Among them was the bullying that little Rudolph faces for his red nose, including verbal abuse from his father Donner who tries to cover up the shiny nose.

“There are more important things than comfort: self-respect,” Donner tells Rudolph after the reindeer complains about the nose cover-up.

“The holiday TV classic ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ is seriously problematic,” reads the caption on the video, which has been seen over 5.6 million times.

Comments also on how Santa aids in marginalizing the young reindeer, as well as the bullying behind his coach egging on the other reindeer to not let Rudolph play with them.

Not everyone agrees!

Some people are finding it hard to believe that someone would have a problem with the tale.

Even the ladies of The View got in on the debate and  all agreed that any criticism didn’t make sense.

“People accused Santa of being a bully. Don’t they know the song?” Whoopi Goldberg says before launching into a fantastic dramatic reading of the lyrics.

“Where is the problem?” she says to applause once done. “He’s a kid that nobody believed in and suddenly they realized he is special, he is who he is for a reason. And he becomes the hero. Where’s the problem?”

We recently shared how an old favourite Christmas carol has been banned from radio this year – read more on that here!

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  • Talk about reading to far into things. Kids don’t see that when watching it.

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  • People are going from the ridiculous to the sublime. It’s a beautiful movie with a story of acceptance behind it. If people don’t think it’s a good thing to watch then, for your sake and others, Don’t watch it.

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  • Use it as a learning tool and move on. Far out people.

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  • It teaches you differences are special and not to judge which is a great message.

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  • I have always thought that Rudolph was the epitome of winning out against all odds – that a deer with a shiny nose recognized as a savior to get Santa’s gifts to the children. Why don’t people see the good in a story instead of the bad?

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  • Things have gone a little crazy when you start to scrutinise poor Rudolph and santa!

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  • Maybe we should just erase everything from the past, change fairy tales etc and names of things so that no one is offended anymore. Instead perhaps we could have a talk with our kids and explain to them that things have changed and bullying is not acceptable etc so they know the right and wrong way. this world is slowly going mad

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  • Haven’t seen the movie but the themes sound like ones that many kids go through with either family, friends or both. If it ends well then isn’t it a great person for how not to treat others? I wish people would look past the things that make them uncomfortable and see what lessons there are to learn from.

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  • Once again another classic bought under the political correct.

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  • Oh my goodness, really ??

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  • I said to my husband, just this evening, that the song sings about Rudolph being bullied and excluded for being different. Which is wrong. They also change their tune when he saves Xmas. It’s a time old song and movie. There could be a lesson in it such as don’t make fun of others, especially if it’s something they cannot help or change. Or that you shouldn’t let others get you down and to show kindness to those who don’t show kindness to you. There’s a whole big grey area in life that can be stepped into and explored!

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  • political correctness has gone mad

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  • Yes I think the PC police are on the Band Wagon.
    Whilst I don’t agree with bullying, this is the classic story of the underdog saving the day.

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  • I think the ultimate message is very positive.


    • The ultimate message is indeed positive and songs and stories are important educational tools.

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  • Political correctness gone over the hill again??

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  • I’ve never been a big fan of this movie but the song is a good teaching tool.

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  • Maybe they need to listen to the lyrics and embrace them – Rudolph triumphs!

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  • Isn’t the message that he embraces his difference and learns to love himself regardless of what all the others think?

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  • I love Rudolph the red nose reindeer please leave him alone don’t judge him

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