So-called sensitivity experts are scrubbing Roald Dahl’s famous children’s books to remove language they deem offensive, including “fat” or “ugly” characters — and making the beloved Oompa Loompas of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” gender neutral.
According to The Telegraph, publisher Puffin enlisted sensitive readers to rewrite hundreds of sections of the late author’s texts to ensure his work can be enjoyed — and not offend — today’s more woke audience.
“Words matter,” reads the notice at the bottom of Puffin’s latest editions of Roald Dahl’s books.
“Roald Dahl’s wonderful words can transport you to different worlds and introduce you to the most wonderful characters. Because this book was written many years ago, we regularly review the language to ensure that it can still be enjoyed by everyone today.”
Puffin enlisted sensitive readers to rewrite hundreds of the late author’s texts, ensuring that his work can be enjoyed and not offend today’s audience.
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Oompa Loompas, the diminutive workers at Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, were once referred to as “small men,” but are now referred to as “small people.”
Augustus Gloop, another favorite character from “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” is no longer referred to as “fat,” but rather “enormous.”
According to the National Review, characters from the author’s other classic stories are also getting a lefty makeover.
The beloved Oompa Loompas from “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” are being gender neutralized by sensitivity experts.
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“Aunt Sponge was terrifically fat / And tremendously flabby at that,” a character rhymes in the original version of “James and the Giant Peach,” and “Aunt Spiker was thin as a wire / And dry as a bone, only drier.”
“Aunt Sponge was a nasty old brute / And deserved to be squashed by the fruit,” the text now reads, and “Aunt Spiker was much the same / And deserves half the blame.”
Gender references have also been eliminated in order to avoid offending women or the transgender community.
A new disclaimer appears in “The Witches” after a section stating that witches are bald beneath their wigs: “There are plenty of other reasons why women might wear wigs, and there is certainly nothing wrong with that.”
“James and the Giant Peach” is also being rewritten for a younger audience.
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Oompa Loompas, formerly known as “small men,” are now referred to as “small people.”
Courtesy of the Everett Collection
The latest changes were made in collaboration with Inclusive Minds, which its spokesperson described as “a collective for people who are passionate about inclusion and accessibility in children’s literature,” according to the Daily Mail.
The Roald Dahl Story Company downplayed the revisions, telling the Guardian that they preserved the author’s voice and style.
Gender references have also been neutralized in some stories to avoid offending women or the transgender community.
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“Our guiding principle throughout has been to maintain the storylines, characters, and the irreverence and sharp-edged spirit of the original text. Any changes made have been minor and carefully considered, according to a spokesperson.
Dahl’s biographer, Matthew Dennison, said the late writer “would have recognized that changes to his novels prompted by the political climate were driven by adults rather than children.”
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