Classic sci-fi movie removed from Disney+ after including previously banned scene
‘Loophole’ sees animal abuse scene aired on Disney+
- The 1989 film The Abyss has been added and then removed from Disney+ due to a controversial scene depicting animal abuse, specifically a rat being dunked in fluorocarbon liquid.
- The scene was previously banned by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) for theatrical, DVD, and Blu-Ray releases under the Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937 and the Video Recordings Act 1984.
- The RSPCA criticised Disney+ for including the scene, citing a "loophole" that exempts streaming services from the regulations applied to other media formats.
- David Bowles, the RSPCA's Head of Public Affairs, is calling for a change in the legal framework.
- The RSPCA said it would welcome the James Cameron film's return to Disney+ if the scene in question is removed, aligning it with the versions available in cinemas, on TV, and on DVD.