The powers that be in Hollywood announced Sunday that Pepé Le Pew, the “controversial French skunk from Looney Tunes,” will no longer appear in the long-awaited Space Jam sequel due to the animated character’s longstanding history of sexually inappropriate behavior involving other cartoon characters.
Le Pew, who appeared in the original Space Jam film alongside Michael Jordan, was supposed to appear in an empowering scene with actress Greice Santo. When the skunk begins to kiss Santo’s arm at a bar, she reacts by pulling away and slamming him into a chair.
The scene also involved the film’s star, pro-China activist and basketball personality LeBron James, who warns Le Pew not to touch others without their consent. Santo is reportedly upset that the scene was cut because it was intended to “let younger girls and younger boys know that Pepe’s behavior is unacceptable.”
Hollywood’s decision to punish Le Pew, who has been criticized in the New York Times for normalizing “rape culture,” came several days after two more women came forward over the weekend to accuse Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D., N.Y.) of sexual harassment.
A total of five women have now alleged that the so-called Luv Guv engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior. Cuomo, who is currently being investigated by the state attorney general’s office, has refused to resign even as members of his own party have urged him to step down.