According to Deadline, director of Space Jam: A New Legacy, Malcolm D. Lee, has cut a Pepe Le Pew scene from the final product. The scene was filmed by Terence Nance, the sequel’s first director, before he left the project.
The scene in question involved sexual consent, more specifically the lack of, with Pepe in the role of a bartender that flirts with a woman played by Greice Santo. As the scene continues, Pepe isn’t willing to take no for an answer, advancing to kiss the arm of the woman without her consent, and she slaps him hard. Pepe later mentions that Penelope Pussycat has filed a restraining order against him, which leads to a moment where LeBron James educates Pepe about consent.
Santo was upset that the scene was removed, seeing as how Pepe was punished for his actions, which would educate young viewers on such actions being unacceptable.
It is mentioned that this scene being cut has nothing to do with the recent column in The New York Times by Charles M. Blow – basically a blow by blow of Pepe’s character and how his portrayal normalises and makes light of predatory behaviours.
However, considering the controversy that has emerged regarding the character after the article was published, the filmmaker and maybe even movie studio might have decided that it would be easier to remove the character from the movie than deal with the backlash that this will probably incite. Probably for the best.
Space Jam: A New Legacy will be released in cinemas July 16, 2021.
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