Not all movie characters are destined to become pop culture icons. In fact, some of them might be best off left forgotten, remnants of a time when jokes used to be a bit more, less say, “tasteless”. To prove this, here are ten characters that have aged like the finest milk.
10. Jar Jar Binks — Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
Jar Jar is offensive for many reasons, but the fact that he resembles minstrel caricatures (complete with an accent and all) might be the most accidentally baffling decision we ever saw in the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy, and that’s saying a lot.
9. Brüno — Brüno (2009)
Dated even when it came out, Sacha Baron Cohen’s Brüno was meant as a critique of homophobia, but ended up being an offensive caricature in the process. The line between mocking bigots and mocking queer culture is so blurry that most of it doesn’t fly now.
8. Jessica Rabbit — Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
She might be an animation icon, but Jessica Rabbit is a walking stereotype that seems almost too on the nose to be believable. She’s still beloved, but younger audiences might find her uncomfortable.
7. Long Duk Dong — Sixteen Candles (1984)
You might not even notice it, but Long Duk Dong is an Asian exchange student. Luckily, Sixteen Candles makes sure you catch this hidden detail by playing a stereotypical gong sound whenever he’s on screen.
6. Tony Montana — Scarface (1983)
As iconic as he might be, Tony Montana is a clear example of dated Latino stereotypes. He also doesn’t notice the difference between flamingoes and pelicans, for some odd reason.
5. Lois Einhorn — Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)
One of the few trans characters in mainstream media is played as a cruel joke in 1994’s Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. The entire “reveal” scene is surprisingly tasteless and crude, even when you remove all the transphobia.
4. Austin Powers — Austin Powers series (1997–2002)
Part of the joke of Austin Powers’ character is how inappropriate he is. That said, even the jokes surrounding his crude humor could raise a few eyebrows in today’s cultural climate. It’s safe to say that Austin wouldn’t have survived the #MeToo era.
3. The Twins — Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
Accidentally or not, Skids and Mudflap are incredibly tasteless racial caricatures that somehow found their way into Transformers films. No wonder they were missing for the rest of the series.
2. Chuck & Larry — I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007)
Basically everyone in this trainwreck of a film is a dated character, including its two leads. That said, Rob Schneider’s “Asian Minister” is in a league of its own when it comes to offensive characterizations.
1. Mr. Yunioshi — Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
The epitome of bad taste, seeing Mickey Rooney play a stereotypical Japanese man (with buck teeth, squinty eyes, and all) will never not be cringeworthy. It’s truly diabolical Hollywood stereotyping on full display.
