Los Angeles, Ca
Disneyland removing stereotypes from classic ride
Disney is planning to update one of the oldest rides at Disneyland to correct stereotypical depictions of Indigenous people.
Peter Pan’s Flight was one of the original rides when Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California, in 1955. It has now come under scrutiny for its racist portrayal of Tiger Lily and her tribe.
The current scene shows tribal members — including the chief with his arms crossed — sitting around a campfire. Some Reddit users complained the current ride characters are “problematic” and called them “caricatures” of native people.
The update was inspired by a recently revised Never Land Tribe scene at the Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The company says riders can expect to see those revisions at all its locations globally, but did not provide a timeline.
Before the update in Orlando, Tiger Lily and her tribe were also depicted sitting around a fire with crossed arms while others drummed. The tribesmen have exaggerated features such as broad noses and large feathered headdresses. The updated figures show Tiger Lily and her grandmother dancing around the fire and men drumming in the background.
“We consider ourselves constant learners and as we identify ways that can make our attractions and experiences more authentic and relatable, and our stories connect more deeply to our guests, we make thoughtful changes,” Disneyland officials said in a statement.
The update received praise from many on social media.
“Drum circle and dancers, I love it. Someone put a lot of thought into the update rather than just removing it,” a Facebook user commented.
However, not everyone was impressed with the change.
“Go woke go broke,” another user commented.
Disneyland officials said in their statement that the company has a “longstanding history of making updates and enhancements to attractions and experiences, so they remain fresh and relevant.”
Back in 2018, the park’s Pirates of the Caribbean ride was updated to remove the scene of tied-up women being presumably auctioned off to pirates, The San Bernardino Sun reported. The scene now shows a female pirate overseeing an auction.
Disneyland is also working to reimagine Splash Mountain into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
In recent years, Splash Mountain has drawn heat since it featured characters and music from the 1946 animated feature “Song of the South,” a movie criticized for its stereotypes of Black men and its romanticized view of the post-Civil War South. The ride’s new storyline focuses on Princess Tiana, Disney’s first Black princess, and the events that took place after the 2009 animated hit “Princess and the Frog.”
KTLA’s Imam Palm contributed to this report.
Jurors deliberating the fate of the man accused of starting the Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in California’s history, failed to reach a verdict Thursday afternoon, telling the judge they were deadlocked.
A spokesperson from the United States Attorney’s Office told KTLA that jurors will continue to deliberate until they reach a verdict or give up.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, a former Uber driver and one-time Pacific Palisades resident, is accused of starting the Lachman Fire on New Year’s Eve. The fire continued to smolder underground for about a week, even after Los Angeles firefighters believed it had been extinguished.
Flames reignited on Jan. 7, erupting into the deadly Palisades Fire that killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes in the upscale community, authorities said.
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A courtroom sketch of Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, during his initial court appearance on Oct. 23, 2025. (Bill Robles) -
The U.S. Dept. of Justice booking photo of Jonathan Rinderknecht over the Palisades Fire devastation in Malibu, California in January 2025 (AP).
Prosecutors argued that Rinderknecht deliberately set the fire, claiming he had grown increasingly resentful of wealthy residents and viewed Pacific Palisades as a symbol of that frustration.
“Their case, though circumstantial, is strong,” KTLA legal analyst Alison Triessl said. “The defense is relying on, can they (prosecutors) show beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Rinderknecht actually started this fire and it wasn’t the result of fireworks or some intervening cause.”
The defense argued there is no direct physical evidence tying Rinderknecht to the fire and said the prosecution’s case relies entirely on circumstantial evidence. Rinderknecht did not testify during the trial.
Defense attorney Steve Haney spoke outside the courthouse Wednesday about why he believes it will be difficult for prosecutors to prove how the fire started.
“The lack of scene preservation. The fact that they got there after a lot of the evidence was missing. Not a lot of direct evidence. This is a circumstantial case, which is always difficult as a prosecutor to prove,” Haney said.
Rinderknecht, who was arrested and indicted last October, faces up to 45 years in prison if found guilty of three arson counts, including destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and timber set afire.
Tony Kurzweil contributed to this report
Los Angeles, Ca
Boyle Heights warehouse cleanup begins as crews face 85 million pounds of spoiled food
Cleanup efforts are underway Thursday at the Boyle Heights cold-storage warehouse that burned for eight days after firefighters officially declared the massive blaze knocked down Wednesday evening. Los Angeles Fire Department crews remain at the Lineage warehouse near Union Pacific Avenue and South La Puente Street as they transition into the overhaul phase, searching for […]
A hospital needs help identifying a male patient who was found injured and unconscious in downtown Los Angeles.
The man is believed to be in his 30s, according to the Los Angeles General Medical Center.
He was found injured on the ground on Omar Street and has been hospitalized since June 22.
He stands 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 176 pounds. He has brown eyes, dark brown hair and tattoos across his upper body.
He did not have any personal belongings to help staff identify him or contact loved ones. Workers did not disclose the nature of his injuries.
Anyone who recognizes the man is asked to call clinical social worker Cesar Robles at 323-409-6885.
The public can also call the L.A. General Medical Center’s Department of Social Work at 323-409-5253 or, after hours from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., call 323-409-6883. On weekends, call 323-409-5254.
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