Disney Faces Backlash From Black Community Over New Kids Superhero Captain Durag

Disney Jr. has found itself at the center of a social media firestorm following the debut of a new animated character, Captain Durag. The character is a central figure in the recently premiered series Hey A.J.!, which follows the whimsical adventures of a young girl named A.J. as she uses her vivid imagination to turn mundane activities into extraordinary missions.

While the show was intended to celebrate Black familial joy, the introduction of a superhero defined by a headwrap has sparked a heated debate regarding representation and cultural stereotypes. The character resides in the fictional “Slime City” and serves as a guardian within A.J.’s imaginary world.

Many critics online argued that the portrayal was disrespectful and relied on lazy tropes rather than nuanced character development. The timing of the release during Black History Month added fuel to the fire, with some users questioning why a global powerhouse like Disney would greenlight a character that some perceived as a “caricature” of the Black community.

Social media users quickly began comparing the new series to classic examples of representation, such as the 1990s hit Static Shock. Critics pointed out that Sesame Street was able to produce diverse and inclusive content decades ago without resorting to what they termed “tone deaf” imagery.

One viral post noted that the community is not a monolith and expressed frustration that the representation felt forced and lazy rather than authentic. In response to the growing outcry, Camille Corbett, one of the writers for the show, defended the creative vision on social media.

As a Black woman involved in the production, she explained that the intent was to give children a superhero they could see themselves in through a lens of cultural familiarity. Despite this defense, Disney Jr. reportedly took steps to mitigate the controversy by removing several clips and episodes featuring Captain Durag from their official YouTube channel, though other segments of the show remain accessible.

I created the character Durag Man, now known as Captain Durag on the Disney Show, Hey AJ and I’m just finding out people are finding it problematic? I just wanted our culture to have a superhero of its own! pic.twitter.com/0Klh7soTPG

— Camille Corbett (@TheWittyGirl) February 16, 2026

The creator of the series, Martellus Bennett, is a former NFL Super Bowl champion who has long been a vocal advocate for diverse storytelling. Bennett originally wrote the Hey A.J.! book series in 2016 to address the lack of children’s literature reflecting his own relationship with his daughter.

He has often stated that his goal was to create stories where children of color could simply be kids, rather than having their entire narrative revolve around self-esteem or hair-related struggles.

As of early this year, Bennett continues to expand his creative footprint through his multimedia company, The Imagination Agency. He currently stars in the series as the voice of A.J.’s father, Marty, alongside a star-studded voice cast that includes Jhené Aiko as the mother, Siggi, and guest appearances by Meghan Trainor and Lena Waithe.

The show is produced by Surfing Giant Studios, which recently announced plans to open a second animation facility in the Canary Islands to support its growing partnership with Disney.

While the “Captain Durag” incident has certainly created a rift in public opinion, the show remains a significant part of Disney’s current animation lineup. Whether the character will be permanently retooled or simply phased out remains to be seen, but the conversation it has sparked highlights the ongoing complexities of modern representation in children’s media.

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