Disney fans have recently expressed shock over an unsettling scene in an older movie, deeming it highly inappropriate.
The film in question is “Blank Check,” centering around the exploits of an 11-year-old boy named Preston.
After receiving a blank check from a criminal, he uses it to indulge in extravagant purchases like houses and limousines.
While the premise might raise eyebrows for promoting questionable financial ethics, it’s not the main reason viewers are upset after revisiting the film years later.
Released in 1994, the movie features a particularly controversial plot line involving the young Preston seemingly pursuing a romantic relationship with an adult woman.
The most problematic scene occurs toward the end of the film.
Preston, having learned that money can’t buy happiness, shares a controversial moment with Shay, a bank teller and undercover FBI agent, played by Karen Duffy, who was 31 at the time of filming.
The scene that has ignited discussions even decades later involves Preston and Shay sharing a kiss on the lips—a gesture that many have criticized as entirely inappropriate and unsettling.
Adding to the discomfort, Shay tells Preston she’ll go on a date with him “in six years,” which would still make him only 17, significantly younger than her by over two decades.
The scene has sparked a flurry of reactions on social media, with viewers expressing their dismay.
One person shared: “I remember rewatching this movie one night and seeing this scene coming up and thinking to myself ‘she’s going to kiss him on the cheek like they usually do’ and then my jaw hitting the floor when she actually kissed him on the lips.”
“I didn’t remember this at all from when I was a child. Unbelievable.”
Another commented: “I assure you. That scene was weird when ‘Blank Check’ first came out.”
A third remarked: “This was messed up even in its day.”
While a fourth questioned: “Nobody on set was like, ‘On the lips? Are you sure about this?’”
Some defended the scene as ‘harmless,’ echoing a stereotype that young boys should appreciate attention from older women.
Shay Stanley Kissing Preston Waters - Blank Check (1994)
In light of the controversy, Brian Bonsall, who played Preston, responded on Facebook by reflecting on the production:
“I had an absolute blast filming this movie! Everyone was a joy to work with and it’s awesome to see so many people still enjoy it!”
The debate continued with people highlighting their changed perceptions when revisiting childhood films.
One viewer remarked: “As I continue to rewatch movies from my childhood, I find myself constantly thinking, ‘ohh, that wouldn’t fly today’.”
Another added: “Was not just flirting; she kissed the kid too. I always said that’s not right.”
A third shared: “It’s sooo bad, used to be one of my favorite movies when I was a kid.”
Others took a more nostalgic stance, arguing that past contexts should be considered.
One posted: “Oh for god’s sake, leave this film alone. Not everything needs to be reassessed through a modern lens.”
Another wrote: “Stop taking our childhood away from us. It was a different time. Don’t like it, don’t watch it.”
This isn’t the first time Disney has faced criticism for content in its older films.
Many now come with warnings about outdated cultural depictions, such as racial caricatures and slurs.
Yet, some films like “Song of the South,” which is set in the post-slavery reconstruction period and criticized for romanticizing the lives of Black people in the southern states after slavery, have been explicitly banned from streaming platforms and parks by Disney’s own Bob Iger.
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