The controversies, in the cinematographic field, about controversial characters do not subside. The last to pay the consequences was the character of Pépe Le Pew (known in Italy as Pepé la Puzzola), excluded from the film Space Jam 2: A New Legacy . Yet, the legendary Pepé had been one of the protagonists of the 1996 Space Jam film , the one with Michael Jordan and other Looney Tunes characters .

Charles M. Blow, a columnist for the New York Times , however, raised a very thorny question, arguing that the skunk was a very sexist character and that he promoted "the culture of rape". That was enough for Warner Bros. to eliminate the character from the film's sequel. So brutally that he even left an interpreter at home, Greice Santo , who limited himself to saying that he was sorry for the choice of production. The Warner Bros. - on the other hand - has not communicated the reasons for its choice, but the doubts are few considering the proximity (in terms of time) of the decision of the studios and the publication of the editorial by Charles M. Blow. The New York Times reporter bases his analysis on the character's constant advances towards women, including Penelope Kitty who - clearly - is not interested in receiving them . The idea, therefore, that one can hug or kiss someone without wanting it appears more like a harassment than a joke. “Grab / kiss a woman / stranger, repeatedly, without her consent and against her will. - Blow writes on Twitter - She struggles to get away, but he does not allow it. He closes a door to prevent her from escaping. This is what I mean by rape culture ”.

In fact, in addition to the character, a scene has already been cut from the film. Pepé appeared in black and white and would move forward to actress Greice Santo, who had to react with a slap. To stop him in no uncertain terms would have been LeBron James, star of the Space Jam sequel .