Disney+ Backtracks on Removing ‘Howard’ Documentary Amid Outrage

Disney has changed its mind about removing the Howard documentary from Disney+ after fans expressed their outrage online. 

Howard, directed by Don Hahn, is a 2018 film about Howard Ashman, the composer who created some of Disney’s most memorable songs. 

Ashman and his partner Alan Menken composed the album for classics like Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Little Mermaid.

Disney has listened to the fans and has decided to keep the documentary Howard on Disney+, Deadline reports. 

Howard was supposed to leave the platform on May 26, but Disney has changed its mind after a wave of online protests from Disney lovers. 

Some of the tweets are shared below: 

Days before the remake of #TheLittleMermaid hits cinemas, and only weeks out from the beginning of Pride Month, Don Hahn's superb documentary on lyricist, playwright, Disney Legend, and LGBTQ+ Icon Howard Ashman, 'HOWARD', will be ripped from Disney Plus (1/6) pic.twitter.com/7nwPr9rmGT

— Dave Lee (@daveleedwnundr) May 19, 2023

"Did you enjoy Disney's The Little Mermaid in theaters? Then come to Disney+ where we spit on the grave of the man responsible for it by removing the excellent documentary film HOWARD"

I am paralyzed with fury right now. https://t.co/vojFzGgo1j

— Stephen "Dirk" Libbey (@ThemeParkDirk) May 18, 2023

I don't really care about Walt Disney, I care about Howard Ashman. And for the only official doc about one of the company's most important (and gay) figures to be removed with no alternative days before pride month, it's pretty sad. Go watch Howard while it's still there pic.twitter.com/uQLggWNfqC

— Avelo (@avelosongs) May 19, 2023

Kind of disgusting that @DisneyPlus is removing the Howard Ashman documentary. The man is responsible for the lyrics to Mermaid/Beauty/Aladdin – which is the cornerstone of the ongoing wave of success Disney has enjoyed over the past 3 decades. pic.twitter.com/BZd8iI6Laf

— Ed South (@edsouth) May 19, 2023

Forgive me, I will be retweeting Howard Ashman content because Disney is being homophobic and erasing his documentary the day Little Mermaid(the lyrics he wrote) comes out hoping to erase the fact that a gay man saved Disney animation and invented the format we all know pic.twitter.com/GHIcli8DbA

— Jules (@JulianneHannes) May 19, 2023

Why are we erasing the documentary about the gay man who was responsible for a good chunk of Disney's musical bangers that brought Disney out of a financial drought ?

The Howard documentary was immaculate and told the story of this queer man who told stories through music https://t.co/Ijukt9QrZ4

— Breana Navickas (@breanimator) May 19, 2023

Fans online were outraged by the timing of Disney’s decision to remove Howard from Disney+. After all, Ashman was the genius behind the music of the original 1989 version of The Little Mermaid.

Moreover, the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid is also set to premiere on May 26. Disney’s move seemed like a massive insult to the fans who loved Ashman’s work.

Ashman was not only a musical mastermind but also a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, which the documentary shows. 

Taking Howard off Disney+ at the end of May would have been a terrible move by Disney. It would have meant losing one of their rare queer-themed films right before Pride Month starts in June. 

Disney would have been disrespecting both Ashman’s legacy and the LGBTQ+ community by removing his documentary from their platform.

Following the intense backlash, Disney has finally made the right choice and has decided to keep Howard on the platform. 

Although their initial decision was a big mistake, it may have a silver lining. It might make more people curious about the documentary and they might watch it. This way, Howard’s story can reach more people and celebrate his LGBTQ+ identity just in time for Pride Month. 

That would be a fitting tribute to a Disney legend.

Howard | Official Trailer | Disney+

About Howard

Howard is a 2018 American documentary film written and directed by Don Hahn about the life of songwriter Howard Ashman.It received positive reviews from critics.

Howard premiered at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival and was nominated for the Best Documentary Award at the 2018 Heartland Film Festival. After having a limited theatrical run on December 18, 2018, the film was released on Disney+ on August 7, 2020.

The film was originally going to be removed from Disney+ on May 26, 2023. But on May 19, it was announced that it would remain on the service after backlash surrounded the decision.