On the heels of public backlash and outrage, Walt Disney World officials said they “regret” hosting a high school drill team that used racially insensitive stereotypes in their performance.

The Texas-based “Indianettes” drill team executed the performance in question, associated with Port Neches-Grove High School. It included the high schoolers donning Native American costumes and chanting “scalp ’em Indians, scalp ’em.” It was recorded by one audience member and soon began circulating Twitter, where it was widely condemned for being racist.

Cuz a bunch of kids in fringe chanting “scalp ‘em Indians, scalp ‘em” is honor, right?

And any Natives who attend @pngisd should prolly just accept their classmates dehumanizing them cuz “tradition”, right?

Shame on @DisneyParks hosting this. Nostalgic racism is RACISM. pic.twitter.com/ELsJHRgJlw
— tara houska ᔖᐳᐌᑴ (@zhaabowekwe) March 18, 2022

Once Disney officials began feeling the heat over the matter, they accused the drill team of performing a routine that differed from the one shown in the audition tape, even though Port Neches-Grove High School openly displays a Native American as its mascot.

“The live performance in our park did not reflect our core values. We regret the performance took place, as it did not reflect the audition tape that was submitted. We have immediately put measures in place to ensure performances reflect the auditions,” Disney Spokesperson Jacquee Walter said.

racist mascot

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