Disney drill team controversy explained: Disney World apologizes for school’s ‘racist’ Indianettes performance
3 min read
Disney drill team controversy explained | Twitter
The Walt Disney World resort said Friday that the performance of an American Indian stereotype drill team from Texas, which chanted “scalp them,” is not representative of Walt Disney World’s values.
“The Indianettes” drill team from Port Neches-Grove High School performed this week at the Magic Kingdom. It did not reflect Disney’s core values, Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Wahler said in an emailed statement.
The school provided an audition tape that did not match its actual performance for selection for the theme park resort, the statement stated.
As they whoop and tap their hands over their mouths, members of the drill team perform stereotypically called “war cry” in a video posted on Twitter.
Cuz a bunch of kids in fringe chanting “scalp ‘em Indians, scalp ‘em” is honor, right?
— tara houska ᔖᐳᐌᑴ (@zhaabowekwe) March 18, 2022
And any Natives who attend @pngisd should prolly just accept their classmates dehumanizing them cuz “tradition”, right?
Shame on @DisneyParks hosting this. Nostalgic racism is RACISM. pic.twitter.com/ELsJHRgJlw
Tweets slam Indianettes’ Magic Kingdom performance
In March, Port Neches-Groves High School’s Indianettes drill team performed at Disney World. Native American stereotypes were quickly criticized for their inclusion in their dance routine.
A clip of the performance was shared online by attorney Tara Houska, an Ojibwe tribal member. Other people who were interested in the performance also expressed their interest on Twitter.
So Disney brings in a drill team called the *checks notes* "Indianettes" and doesn't foresee a problem? https://t.co/WEfW9rmYzp
— Mike Mahoney (@mikeymo1741) March 19, 2022
According to one user, Disney sends in a drill team called the “Indianettes” and isn’t too worried. Another user commented that this video was disgusting in every way. “Who thought this was okay?”
Everything about this video is disgusting. Who thought this was okay? https://t.co/TEXCi9ui2d
— chris evans (@notcapnamerica) March 18, 2022
Following the backlash, Houska spoke with Forbes about the situation and questioned Disney. They questioned giving the drill team a platform for their controversial performance. Apparently, Disney didn’t even mention that they uplifted racism and ignorance in the movies.
A “cursory review” of Port Neches-Groves High School also revealed the use of inappropriate Native American references. These were as “War Whoop Yearbooks” and “The Reservation” for the school’s football stadium.
Disney claims that they weren't aware of what they were going to chant, but they are called the Indianettes and their typical uniform has an "Indian Headdress", what did they think was going to happen
— Figment Fan 🏳️⚧️ (@pinkrose787) March 18, 2022
Disney responds to controversy surrounding Indianettes drill performances
Disney apologized for allow ing the Indianettes drill team to perform at its Magic Kingdom in response to the controversy over the drill team.
The routine was not in sync with the audition tape that the school provided before the main performance. It was stated by Jacquee Wahler, a spokesperson for Deadline.
Disney has issued a statement in response to the Port Neches-Groves High School performance at Magic Kingdom earlier this week, saying the performance did not reflect what was included in the school's audition tape. pic.twitter.com/kLYuIayzwE
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) March 18, 2022
A spokesperson for the entertainment giant mentioned that new policies have been adopted in an effort to avoid a repeat of the incident, but no details were provided.
Indianettes director Cortnie Schexnaider and Superintendent Mike Gonzales did not respond to the controversy immediately. Nonetheless, the district later addressed the matter in a conversation with KFDM-TV.
There is a HS drill team in Texas called the Indianettes who were recently upset bc they couldn’t wear their “war bonnets” @ WDW in FL 😳
— Renee Marie 💙💛 (@arznasun1) March 18, 2022
The headdress is reserved for elder Native American Chiefs who earn them
So insanely offensive this exists pic.twitter.com/JzTvwf3rSm
There was a whole drill team performance that chanted “scalp em indians!” at Magic Kingdom days ago. The fact there isn’t more outrage over this is baffling. Indigenous people may have had to witness this in a place that preaches “inclusivity.” Absolutely disgusting. pic.twitter.com/uhLLSSqNQX
— Home Alone 2: Lost en Nu Yor (@reym8020) March 18, 2022
Ankita Khanrah
Ankita Khanrah is a second-year student of the Master of Communication and Journalism (Integrated) programme at the School of Mass Communication, KIIT Deemed University, Bhubaneswar.
