Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Under Fire For Bullying Again

For many, the Rankin/Bass Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer stop-motion animated television special is a staple of the holiday season. In more recent years, it's come under criticism for the way it portrays bullying and for teaching the wrong messages. That trend continues this year with viewers commenting online about the special.

In 2018, one of the special's voice actors, Corinne Conley, defended the special, arguing that the people complaining are missing the point of the special. "I would say that it's more relevant now than ever because there is so much bullying going on," she said. "But I mean it's all reconciled in Rudolph and surely people wouldn't love it so much if it left a resonance of bullying it wouldn't be so indelible in people's hearts and believe me I've got to tell you having been in it and having a list of credits over the last 60 years, people read my credits and say 'oh, you were in Rudolph!' and you know, they start to cry,. Now, I don't think they're associating Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer with bullying or at least bullying that hasn't been reconciled."

Nonetheless, viewers -- including many former fans of the special -- have taken to Twitter ot share their complaints about the program. Here's what they're saying: