Disney fans are utterly shocked by a wildly inappropriate scene from the ’90s film Blank Check.
The film features 11-year-old Preston who, after receiving a blank check from a crook, goes on a spending spree on lavish homes and limos. While the premise raises eyebrows with its hint of financial misconduct, it’s not the main cause of the current uproar.
Released in 1994, the film includes a disturbing plotline where young Preston seems to engage in a romantic subplot with an adult woman.
The film culminates with Preston realizing that money can’t buy true happiness, but it’s a particular scene at this climax that has left viewers aghast.
So, what is this scene that has stirred controversy even decades after the film’s release?
The scene in question shows Preston, played by Brian Bonsall, sharing a kiss on the lips with Shay, a bank teller and undercover FBI agent portrayed by then 31-year-old Karen Duffy.
The kiss, far from a simple peck on the cheek, has been criticized for being totally inappropriate and uncomfortable.
Making matters worse, Shay tells Preston that she’ll date him “in six years,” which would still make him only 17, significantly younger than her.
Viewers have expressed their disbelief and discomfort on social media. One person shared: “I remember rewatching this movie one night and expecting a harmless cheek kiss when suddenly, she kissed him on the lips. I was shocked.”
Another added: “Believe me, even when Blank Check was first released, that scene was bizarre.”
A third remarked: “This was problematic even back then,” while another questioned: “Did no one during filming question the appropriateness of that kiss?”
While some might dismiss the scene as ‘harmless,’ many highlight how it perpetuates the dangerous stereotype that young boys should welcome attention from older women.