MARY Poppins has had its age rating lifted because kids could be exposed to “discriminatory language”.
The 1964 Disney classic is now considered unsuitable for children ahead of its 60th anniversary, which will see the film hit cinema screens again next month.
Originally released with a U rating – meaning it contains no material likely to offend or harm – the world-famous movie was last week upped to a PG.
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) reached the verdict after analysing a scene with Julie Andrews and Reginald Owen’s Admiral Boom.
BBFC were prompted to reclassify it over the use of the word Hottentots, according to MailOnline.
Now a dated term, it was historically used by Europeans to refer to the Khoekhoe, who are a group of nomadic herders in South Africa.
But it is now regarded as racially offensive.
During the scene, which prompted the reconsideration, character Admiral Bloom used the word twice.
At first, he is dangling from the roof in a boat and asks the Banks children if they are “going to fight the Hottentots”.
Later on in the film, a group of chimney sweepers, whose faces are blackened with soot, dance on the roof.
The admiral then says, “We’re being attacked by Hottentots,” before shooting fireworks at them.
It is understood that the historical context of the film, being in an early 20th century London, was looked into.
But the BBFC found that the language exceeds it being a U.
The BBFC said: “We understand from our racism and discrimination research… that a key concern for… parents is the potential to expose children to discriminatory language or behaviour which they may find distressing or repeat without realising the potential offence.
“Content with immediate and clear condemnation is more likely to receive a lower rating.”
