Upwards of 1500 classic cartoons by Hanna-Barbera are being edited to cut scenes that portray smoking positively.

Reuters reports that the move is being spearheaded by Turner Broadcasting after complaints were filed against two episodes of “Tom and Jerry.” British media watchdog Ofcom received the complaints after the episodes were broadcast on the Boomerang channel, a sister company to Turner.

“We are going through the entire catalog,” said Yinka Akindele, spokeswoman for Turner in Europe. “This is a voluntary step we’ve taken in light of the changing times.”

According to Akindele, only scenes “where smoking could be deemed to be cool or glamorized” would be removed, while bits with tobacco-puffing villains would likely not be cut.

There was no indication from the American arm of Turner Broadcasting on whether or not cuts would also take place on this side of the Atlantic.






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