Keira Knightley shares her reasons for banning her daughter from watching Disney classics like Cinderella and The Little Mermaid. Some fans disagreed with her views. Read on for the full story.
Keira Knightley has never been shy about her parenting choices, and one of the most surprising decisions she made was banning her daughter from watching certain Disney films. During a 2018 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Knightley opened up about which classic Disney movies she didn’t want her daughter, Edie, to grow up watching—and why.
Knightley explained that Cinderella was on the banned list because, in her view, the titular character spends the entire story waiting for a man to rescue her. “Cinderella is banned because [Cinderella] waits around for a rich guy to rescue her,” Knightley said. “Don’t, rescue yourself, obviously.” The actress received applause from the audience for this statement, with many agreeing with her modern take on the classic fairy tale.
However, Knightley also revealed another movie on her ‘banned’ list that she had a more complicated relationship with: The Little Mermaid. Despite loving the movie and enjoying the music, Knightley pointed out the film’s problematic message. “I mean, the songs are great but do not give your voice up for a man, hello,” she explained. While admitting her love for the film, Knightley made it clear that her stance remained firm, adding, “But the problem with The Little Mermaid is I love it, so that one is a little tricky but no, I am keeping to it.”
Despite these restrictions, Knightley shared that her daughter was allowed to watch Finding Dory, the Disney-Pixar sequel to Finding Nemo, which also starred Ellen DeGeneres. This movie, Knightley believed, had a more empowering message for young viewers.
While Knightley’s reasoning was met with applause by some, it also sparked debate online. Many fans disagreed with her assessments of the classic Disney films, especially Cinderella. One commenter argued that Cinderella exhibited agency and was not simply waiting for a prince, noting that she took action to defy her abusers, with the prince’s arrival being a coincidental escape route.
Others pointed out the positive qualities of both Cinderella and The Little Mermaid. One person emphasized that Cinderella was hardworking, brave, and kind, while another defended Ariel’s adventurous spirit, stating that she was a daring fighter who helped unite two opposing worlds.
Knightley, who now has two daughters—Edie, 10, and Delilah, born in 2019—has clearly thought deeply about the messages she wants to send to her children through the media they consume. Whether or not she has relaxed her stance on the banned films remains unknown, but her comments undoubtedly sparked an ongoing conversation about the lessons we want to teach the next generation through the stories we share.
