Critics have slammed Disney’s new black superhero as “tone-deaf” and offensive, though the character’s creator defends the cultural representation.
Sonya Gugliara - New York Post
Disney’s latest effort at diversity is dividing fans who ripped the “tone-deaf” network for pushing a black superhero wearing a durag.
Captain Durag, who debuted on January 15, fights “grime” and in Slime City on the Disney Jr. show Hey AJ!
His durag doubles as his cape and covers the upper portion of his face like a mask, with his eyes peaking through. The fabric hair covering is primarily associated with the Black community.
The character was instantly slammed by viewers who were both furious and baffled by what they perceived as an overtly stereotypical and offensive depiction of a black character.
“They made a ‘Captain Durag’ in 2026 what the f**k Disney,” one man wrote on X.
“The concept of Captain Durag is wildly tone deaf,” another agreed.
“I thought captain durag was a made up internet hoax but nope lmao disney really came up with that for black history month .. my sides hurt. I’ve been laughing so hard,” someone wrote in disbelief.
“Everyone already said everything to be said but Captain Durag is an abomination,” another wrote, adding that the character’s creator is a black woman. “I hope black parents use their voice to get this sh*t removed.”
Camille Corbett, the writer for Hey AJ! who created Captain Durag’s character, was quick to defend her work.“Watch the show,” the Jamaican-American artist and comedian told The Post.
“As a scholar, I’d never speak on anything I’ve never experienced.”
Corbett, 28, went further in a February 16 social media post.
“I created the character Durag Man, now known as Captain Durag on the Disney Show, Hey AJ and I’m just finding out people are finding it problematic? I just wanted our culture to have a superhero of its own!” she wrote on X.
Hey AJ! creator and former NFL star Martellus Bennett shared a detailed statement on Instagram explaining the embattled character was “a reflection of black life.”
“If that offends you, maybe the problem isn’t the durag. Maybe the problem is that you’ve never seen black imagination treated as sacred, heroic and worthy of a cape,” Bennett, 38, wrote.
Disney worked with The League, a cultural consultant group, throughout the show’s production, USA Today reported.
Disney and The League did not immediately respond to The Post’s requests for comment.
This is not the first time Disney has found itself in hot water over an attempt at political correctness.
A 2021 Muppet Babies episode sparked criticism for a storyline in which Gonzo struggles to tell his friends he wants to wear a dress to a party.
Another Disney release, Marvel’s 2023 film Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, was criticised for showing police firing tear gas at peaceful protesters.
The 2025 Snow White remake was scrutinised for shifting away from the 1937 classic’s damsel in distress storyline, as well as using CGI creatures as the princess’ companions instead of casting little people to play the iconic seven dwarfs.
Conservative non-profit America First Legal (AFL) accused Disney in March 2024 of hurting its own shareholders with a “woke” political agenda that has its family friendly programs pushing “anti-police and anti-white content”.
AFL claimed at the time that since February 2021, Disney’s market cap had fallen nearly 40 per cent — from $US341 billion (S481 million) to $US207 billion ($292 million) — as a result of the programming.
This article originally appeared in New York Post and was reproduced with permission
