Pepé Le Pew won't reprise his "Space Jam" role in the sequel, but the cartoon skunk was cut before a writer recently linked the character to rape culture. Pepe Le Pew has been cut from the "Space Jam" sequel due to a questionable scene in the film. 3/7/2021 4:49 PM PT ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection. ", The source added, "James and Bugs Bunny are looking for Lola, and Pepe knows her whereabouts. Pepe Le Pew will not appear in the upcoming sequel to Space Jam over fears the cartoon skunk "normalised rape culture", it's claimed. I’m sure you won’t ever be able to begin to guess why a character whose entire personality trait is that he’s a horny boundary-pushing skunk was axed from an updated Looney Tunes lineup. The cartoon skunk was set to make an appearance in the sequel to the beloved 1997 film, "Space Jam. Pepe is a bartender who "starts hitting on a woman (Santo) at the bar." “Now the scene is cut, and she doesn’t have that power to influence the world through younger generations who’ll be watching Space Jam 2, to let younger girls and younger boys know that Pepe’s behavior is unacceptable.”. After NYT columnist Charles Blow called out Pepe Le Pew for promotion rape culture, it has been revealed that Warner Bros. pulled a scene from LeBron James' 'Space Jam: A … It is being reported that the cut Space Jam 2 scene was filmed by original director Terence Nance, though since new director Malcolm D. Lee came on board, the scene was removed, with only the live-action element filmed (the animation was apparently never completed). Space Jam: A New Legacy will no longer feature Pepe Le Pew, robbing fans of the chance to see a filmed scene where the handsy skunk learns an important lesson about consent. Pepe Le Pew Was Removed From The ‘Space Jam’ Sequel, Though Not Because Of The Recent Controversy Around Him by: Matt Prigge Twitter March 7, … Pepe Le Pew Dropped From Space Jam: A New Legacy, Won’t Appear In The Movie. However, the removal is not believed to be connected to Blow’s remarks. From left, Michael Jordan, Pepe Le Pew (and in inset), Wile E. Coyote, Foghorn Leghorn, in "Space Jam," circa 1996. "The news comes as Pepe Le Pew and other cartoon characters face heavy criticism for their alleged perpetuation of rape culture, stereotypes, and racism. Pepe Le Pew will not be appearing in the upcoming ‘Space Jam’ sequel, a decision made separate from a recent controversy linking the character to rape culture. SPACE JAM 2 A New Legacy is due out later this year, but a scene involving Pepe Le Pew sexually harassing an actor has been axed from the movie ahead of its release. Now the scene is cut, and she doesn’t have that power to influence the world through younger generations who’ll be watching Space Jam 2, to let younger girls and younger boys know that Pepe’s behavior is unacceptable.". © 2021 NME is a member of the media division of BandLab Technologies. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. James then notes that Pepe cannot touch other people without their consent. Pepe Le Pew, whose amorous adventures have amused audiences for decades, is now the face of “rape culture,” at least according to the New York Times. New York Times columnist Charles Blow opened up … Greice Santo. ", RELATED: Space Jam: A New Legacy's Lola Is 'Strong,' Not Sexualized, Upon hearing that her scene was cut from the Space Jam sequel, Santo's representative stated, "This was such a big deal for Greice to be in this movie. However, Pepe has already been axed from an upcoming ‘Space Jam’ sequel.