Keira Knightley once shared that there are certain Disney movies she preferred her daughter not to watch while growing up.
Parenting is a challenging task, and many parents pay close attention to the content their children are exposed to, whether it’s on television, YouTube, or social media. This consideration is no different for celebrities, as actor Keira Knightley has revealed her thoughts on the films she chose to restrict from her daughter’s viewing.
Back in 2018, Knightley discussed this on an episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show while talking about her daughter Edie, who is now ten years old.
When Ellen DeGeneres asked which films were off-limits for Edie, Knightley named some well-loved Disney classics.
She explained: “Cinderella is banned because [Cinderella] waits around for a rich guy to rescue her, don’t, rescue yourself, obviously.”
The audience responded with applause, and Knightley mentioned another ‘banned’ film that she personally enjoyed.
She continued: “This is the one I am quite annoyed about because I really like the film, but The Little Mermaid.”
“I mean, the songs are great but do not give your voice up for a man, hello.”
“However, the problem with The Little Mermaid is I love it, so that one is a little tricky, but I am sticking to my decision.”
Knightley did mention that her daughter is allowed to watch the Disney Pixar sequel to Finding Nemo, Finding Dory, which features DeGeneres as a voice actor.
Despite Knightley’s reasoning, when the segment was uploaded to YouTube, many viewers disagreed with her stance.
One person commented: “Cinderella has way more agency than people give her credit for. She doesn’t wait around for a prince. The one time she defies her abusers, she happens to fall in love with a prince, and that happens to be her escape route. She never once dreamed for a prince.”
Another viewer added: “So quick to jump into all the negative aspects of those movies, when they actually teach young people the value of compassion, generosity, resilience, and the meaning of standing one’s ground.”
A third joked: “Hold up, didn’t Cinderella run into the prince?? She wasn’t actively waiting for him. Sis just wanted a night off.”
Another comment read: “Cinderella is not a bad or weak character. She is hardworking, brave, and kind, despite being abused and going through loss. She goes after her dreams. She is a beacon of compassion.”
“Ariel is adventurous, daring, and a fighter. She brought two worlds at odds with each other together. These are great films for kids.”
Since then, Knightley and her husband, James Righton, have welcomed another daughter, Delilah, born in 2019.