The Disney Corporation has declined to comment on the controversy about its new summer blockbuster, The Lone Ranger, which features a character with a cleft lip.
Disney has been criticised by cleft lip and palate organisations internationally for its portrayal of Cavendish, who is described as a “ruthless outlaw whose terribly scarred face is a perfect reflection of the bottomless pit that passes for his soul”.
In an interview with a movie website, actor William Fichtner confirmed that the cleft lip was part of the look for his character. "You know, I have the prosthetic broken nose, the whole cleft lip. I'm not working at that stuff. That's just amazing special effects. It's creating a look. It's filling up that look with who the guy is."
Disney declined to comment on the controversy when contacted by The Irish Times and has kept its silence despite repeated requests from organisations to explain why they portrayed the character with a cleft lip.
Lego, a partner with Disney on the movie, has amended the description of Cavendish on its website.
Georgina Wade of the Irish Cleft Lip and Palate Association of Ireland said Disney's refusal to engage with those who were offended was "corporate and unfeeling".
She maintained that the producers of the film must have known during production that they were portraying a character with a cleft lip, yet never thought about the consequences of such a portrayal.
“This association of a cleft lip with evil may lead to bullying, mocking and an expectation that children with a cleft should be the bad guys in playground games,” Ms Wade added.
“These children are already vulnerable due to their facial condition. They encounter enough medical and psychological challenges in everyday life without this.”
The film, meanwhile, has been a commercial flop and is expected to lose Disney €150 million worldwide.
