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People Are Upset About "Disturbing" Themes In 'Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer' Special

TV Guide

Last week, people were up in arms after some social media users pointed out that A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving was racist.

Many viewers were upset that about a scene involving Franklin, the only African-American character, being left to sit himself on one side of the table while the rest of his friends grouped together on the other sides.

The critics also noticed that the young boy was seated in a lawn chair while all his friends had proper dining chairs.

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Whether or not this was done intentionally remains to be answered, but now it seems like people may already found their next target.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which has been airing over the Christmas season since 1964, is under fire for its supposedly "disturbing" themes.

For those who aren't familiar with this classic, the story revolves around Rudolph, a misfit who has been cast from the reindeer games because he looks different.

But it turns out, he and his team of outcasts, including Hermey (the elf who wants to become a dentist) and the Abominable Snow Monster, can save the day when Santa's sleigh gets fogged in.

While the 30-minute childhood favorite has always been regarded as heart-warming, not everyone is perceiving that way.

Some people found Hermey's obsession with dentistry creepy, and went as far as labeling him a "sadistic psychopath." Others argued that the way the profession is portrayed is "dentist shaming."

But nothing ticked viewers off more than when they realized that Santa was a bully in the movie.

Of course, not everyone agrees with these observations, with many quickly coming to the special's defense and pointing out that Rudolph overcoming adversity is the whole point of the story.

While some of the criticism may have been meant  to be funny, there definitely people out there who are really uncomfortable with some parts of Rudolph's story.

But at the end of the day, we can't let other people tell us how we should feel about something, so it's up to you to decide if your family will be watching it or not.

What do you think about Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?

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