The Huffington Post released a video claiming the beloved Christmas TV special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer from Rankin and Bass “is seriously problematic.”
The holiday TV classic “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” is seriously problematic. ? pic.twitter.com/dOgqPF3bAP
— HuffPost (@HuffPost) November 29, 2018
The two minute plus video clip laments the Christmas classic for what they call problematic elements. The video toggles back and forth from random twitter comments while also making its own moralizing points about the Christmas special. However, all of the random Twitter users and the Huffington Post video editor and team who put this together seemed to have missed the point of the movie, or what is more likely the case, they’ve never even seen the film in its entirety.
But before we even get to the absolute ridiculousness of the video, the first two Twitter comments they use in the video appear to have been deleted. The first by Garytt Poirier appears to have been deleted. The Tweet reads, “Yearly reminder that #Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is a parable on racism & homophobia w/ Santa as a bigoted exploitative prick.”
While Poirer appears to have deleted his original comment he did double down on his views in a follow-up Tweet:
I literally tweeted this 3+ weeks ago when the tv special was on. The tv special has subtext of racism and homophobia. And Santa is a total dick in the tv special. Also made in 1964 in the heart of the civil rights movement.
— Garytt Poirier (@Garytt) December 18, 2017
But is that really what the Christmas special is really about? First off, the idea that the show somehow is a parable on racism would be difficult to make is because Rudolph is a reindeer and it’s other reindeer who are picking on him because he has a different nose. It would make much more sense if Rudolph was a different animal or even breed. Then that claim would have some ground to stand on.
Next, Poirier claims the special is somehow about homophobia. Where to start? Um, the simplest answer I can give is no. Sexuality, hetero or homosexual isn’t even touched upon in the classic show. The focus is on the fact that Rudolph is physically different because of his red glowing nose.
The second Tweet appears to come from an account that no longer appears to exist. The user writes, “Santa’s operation is an HR nightmare and in serious need of diversity and inclusion training. #Rudolph.” But was that really the issue in the movie? Well, Hermey, the young elf, was different and wanted to be a Dentist. The resistance to not following in your family’s footsteps is what is at issue more than some idea that this is a “diversity and inclusion training” problem. And Hermey actually gets to become a dentist in the end!
It’s as if both users and the HuffPost missed the entire premise and point of the plot. And given the fact there is a literal narrative from Burl Ives refuting them, one can only assume they never watched the actual movie. Ives narrates, “When everybody hears their story, they start to realize, maybe, they were a little hard on the misfits. Maybe misfits have a place too. Even Santa realizes maybe he was wrong.” The actual show makes it a point to show that how Santa and the reindeer treat Rudolph is wrong. In fact, Rudolph becomes the hero of the story and saves Christmas because of his red-nose. He’s able to light the way and guide Santa’s sleigh on Christmas day.
The story even sees the Abominable Snowman reformed as he tops the Christmas tree with a star.
https://youtu.be/72cRrbf7x_w?t=2548
However, that didn’t stop the Huffington Post from trying to push what appears to be their own agenda. Fortunately, a number of folks on Twitter weren’t falling for the Huffington Post’s completely ludicrous and nonsensical take on Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
— Stefan Djordjevic (@62stackmonster_) November 29, 2018
“Oh look! Something people like and enjoy; let’s go ruin it!”
— Rebeccah Heinrichs (@RLHeinrichs) November 29, 2018
The craziest part of this is that someone gets paid actual money to write this garbage.
— Brett Wilson ? (@BrettWilson09) November 29, 2018
You guys didn’t get into the environmental exploitation and degradation of mining celebrated in the character Yukon Cornelius, not to mention he’s an open carry enthusiast. pic.twitter.com/8NkPuvhXFn
— J.J. Sefton (@QWellington1) November 29, 2018
So what do you think? Did HuffPost have a point about Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer? Does the Christmas special have so-called problematic elements? Or do they deserve the mocking they are currently getting online? Do you think they have even seen the Christmas special? Let me know in the comments below!