Disney attacked over lack of disabled princesses

Its new film The Princess and The Frog features a black princess, but Disney has still been criticised for its alleged lack of diversity.

Disney has been praised for breaking down barriers by featuring its first black princess in the film 'The Princess and The Frog' Credit: Photo: DISNEY

Disney has been praised for breaking down barriers by featuring its first black princess in the film The Princess and The Frog. Oona King, who was Gordon Brown's senior policy adviser on equalities and diversity, is not satisfied, however.

"You never see disabled people," the former Labour MP complained to Mandrake at a screening at the Mayfair Hotel in London. "When are you going to see a Disney film with a disabled character in the lead role? Tell me that."

King is clearly on a mission in her new role as Channel 4's head of diversity. "I think all of the media has a problem," she said.

"If you look at the members of the media's cultural network, all British broadcasters, none of us do well in terms of diversity.The people making film and TV have to really get their act together."

King, who was defeated at the last general election by George Galloway, added: "Where we have made progress is having black people and other under-represented groups on the screen, but we still don't have black people making films. I can't think of the British Spike Lee."