Pepe Le Pew will no longer be in future Warner Bros. projects. Is sexual abuse normalized? (video)

The well-known French skunk from the world of cartoons, Pepe Le Pew, is now in the eye of the storm, because certain figures have labeled him a stalker, abuser, and rapist.

Pepe Le Pew, was created by the famous Chuck Jones, appearing for the first time in 1945. Going on to be Warner Bros, Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies.

He's always on the lookout for affection, so when he stumbles upon a black cat named Penelope Pussycat, Pepe is captivated by her.

With a gallant, poetic and, above all, insistent personality, he chases after Penelope, who always escapes. Finding different ways to avoid him, while he took it as a form of flirting.

It is worth noting that in the beginning Penelope appears as a dog. As can be seen in a cartoon from 1947. Later, she became a cat.

Many may not remember that the roles were almost always reversed at the end of the cartoon, when a paint can fell on Pepe Le Pew, leaving him solid. While Penelope lost her white stripe, the skunk lost interest, the cat ended up falling in love with him, seeing him as a handsome cat.

In 1949 Pepe Le Pew and Penelope starred in the animated film "For Sentimental Reasons," which won an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film.

Removed from Space Jam: A New Legacy

Since the Me Too movement, the character has suffered several setbacks. Several well-known figures have spoken out against the cartoon.

Among them are Dave Chappelle, who in 2000, in the film "Killin' Them Softly," said he was a rapist. Amber E. George, in an essay she wrote about Warner Bros. and Looney Tunes, also called Pepe's actions toward Penelope "sexual harassment, stalking, and abuse."

On the other hand, Charles M. Blow, in a column for the New York Times this year, stated that the character "normalized rape culture." He also added that "racism must be exorcised from culture, including, or perhaps especially, from children's culture."

Because of all this controversy, which was generated with the character of Pepe Le Pew, Warner Bros. announced its decision to remove him from the production of Space Jam: A New Legacy on March 7, 2021. And from any other project, at least in the short term, for being politically incorrect. In addition, other characters are in the spotlight. Now, tell us, how do you view this decision to eliminate this character? Do you think others should be eliminated?

Image: Millennium