Disney Accused Of "Brown Face" Over "Moana" Costume

Disney has caused quite the commotion with the release of a "Maui Costume for Kids" based on upcoming film, Moana.

Activists have accused Disney of promoting "brown face" with their newly released Halloween costume, intended to let children dress up as tattooed Pacific demi-god Maui.

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Dear #Disney , our brown skin is not a costume. Get outta here with that crap. Sincerely, a furious brown skinned Pacific Islander. #Moana
— taleifiji (@TaleiFiji) 19 September 2016

Concerns have been raised that the costume is in poor taste, taking elements of Polynesian culture and representing them in a highly caricaturised way. Apart from the obvious brown body suit, the costume also includes "screen art skirt with leaf accents" and "photorealistic teeth art appliqués," which have been criticised as appropriating Hawaiian and Oceanic traditions.

Just last month an Australian mother painted her son's skin black for a school Book Week parade, prompting similar discussions around the sensitivities of black and brown face.

Not everyone agrees that people should have the right to be offended about how their cultures are packaged, presented and sold to the masses. Some believe the costume is simply, just a costume.

For some, it's clear that Disney crossed the line with this one.

The costume backlash has come after Disney had been heavily praised for featuring their first ever Polynesian princess.

Who would have guessed that diversity does, in fact, sell?

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