The 1964 Christmas TV special “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” has come under fire after the Huffington Post called it sexist, bigoted and abusive.
Critics of the special point out how several of the characters are bullied, insulted and berated even by their so-called loved ones.
News 12 New Jersey spoke with some state residents about the controversy.
Claudia Farris of Metuchen says that she can understand some of the criticism.
"When I saw it on TV the other day, it made me really think about it and I thought they didn't allow him to play with the other reindeer, they called him names, so it was a form of bullying,” she said.
But many said that they think that the outrage is caused by people being too sensitive.
"Next thing you know, they’re going to take off ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’” says Metuchen resident Joseph Laktos. “These are great movies. They taught my children lessons. People are going to put you down, but you can persevere and make it through life."
Corrine Conley, one of the original voice actors in the special, says that the naysayers are missing the point of the story. She told TMZ that while the film does contain bullying, it all worked out in the end.
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” is not the only Christmas song to come under fire. A Cleveland radio station recently banned the song “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” claiming that it was insensitive during the #MeToo movement.