Fairuza Balk is cast as the worst witch in the beloved children's series. The Worst Witch is a popular series of children's books written by Jill Murphy. It follows the adventures of Mildred Hubble, a young witch who attends Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches. The books have been adapted into several television series and movies over the years. In 1986, a TV movie was made based on the first book in the series, with Fairuza Balk cast as the lead character, Mildred Hubble. Fairuza Balk's portrayal of Mildred Hubble was divisive among fans of the books.
2023 Super Bowl: What is the controversy around the Kansas City Chiefs mascot?
Fairuza Balk's portrayal of Mildred Hubble was divisive among fans of the books. While some praised her performance as a fresh and unique take on the character, others felt that she didn't capture the essence of Mildred Hubble as portrayed in the books. The biggest criticism of Balk's performance was that she made Mildred too sassy and confident, whereas the character in the book is meant to be clumsy and unsure of herself.
Why is the Kansas City Chiefs mascot a controversial figure in the sport?
Update: Feb 12th, 2023 13:31 ESTThe Super Bowl LVII is about to get underway but first let’s get to the real business: K.C. Wolf and his 85 inch hips.
KC Wolf was ‘born’ in 1989, back when the NFL didn’t have a lot of popular mascots. He was named after the team’s ‘Wolfpack’, a group of loud fans who sat in the Municipal Stadium.
Dan Meers has been the man behind the wolf mask for 33 years and keeps his wolf bodies in his garage. ““KC Wolf has probably got a better wardrobe than I’ve got”, he told local news. He became a huge favourite amongst the fans after bringing a sense of joy to the role, regularly breaking out in fun dance moves and an avid Chiefs fan. Wolf’s most iconic moment is undoubtedly when he tackled a drunk fan who wandered onto the field in the 2001 Pro Bowl. He also has a strong social media presence, with over 19,000 followers.
- Follow the AS USA live coverage of the Super Bowl
Underlying controversy
However, despite the love, there is a sense of controversy behind the character and Kansas City’s identity designs and branding as a whole. As reported in Distractify, “native American groups across the nation have asked various sports teams, such as the Washington Commanders (formerly the Washington Redskins) and baseball team the Cleveland Guardians (formerly the Cleveland Indians), to change their team names and mascots to reduce harm and cultural appropriation.”
Before KC Wolf, the Chiefs’ mascot was a pinto horse mascot named Warpaint, who was brought back in 2009, before being quickly retired as “it was the right thing to do”, according to the team.
- Meet SWOOP! The $400-an-hour Philadelphia Eagles mascot who was “too aggressive”
Kansas City Chiefs’ controversial identity
The fans, who sing the Tomahawk Chop, have been banned since 2020 from wearing face paint and Native American headdresses, with the team saying that “face painting is still allowed for all fans, but any face paint that is styled in a way that references or appropriates American Indian cultures and traditions will be prohibited.”
#StopTheChop was floated by activists in order to turn the fans away from doing the gesture, but the club, perhaps worried about losing the ferocious atmosphere the fans are known for, decided to respond by recommending the chop be done with a closed fist instead of an open palm.
The Chiefs official website makes no mention of the controversy, simply stating that Wolf “is also in high demand as a humorous and motivational speaker.”
- More detail: Why the Tomahawk Chop is so controversial
Rhonda LeValdo, founder of the Kansas City-based Indigenous activist group Not In Our Honor, said on Thursday that “it’s not bringing our people into this celebration together. Really, it’s hurting us more because now it’s the bigger spotlight where you’re seeing this all over the world.” She will be in Arizona to push for the Chiefs to abandon the team’s name, mascot and fan-driven “tomahawk chop.”
About the author
Born in Leeds, Joe finished his Spanish degree in 2018 before becoming an English teacher to football (soccer) players and managers, as well as collaborating with various football media outlets in English and Spanish. He joined AS in 2022 and covers both the men’s and women’s game across Europe and beyond.
Kansas City Chiefs reportedly put an end to ‘Warpaint’ tradition
KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 13: Kansas City Chiefs cheerleader Susie rides Warpaint onto the field for the pre-game festivities before a game against the Oakland Raiders on October 13, 2013 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images) /
The Kansas City Chiefs have made the decision to end the use of Warpaint, a longtime mascot for the team which was reintroduced back in 2009.
While the Kansas City Chiefs have had Warpaint as a mascot every season since 2009, the tradition of having the horse present at games is coming to an end. Monday afternoon, Kansas City Chiefs president Mark Donovan announced the decision for the NFL team to distance itself from Warpaint.
The move away from Warpaint comes several months after the Washington Football Team rebranded itself and is in the wake of the discussion surrounding the decision for the Cleveland Indians to rebrand and become the Cleveland Guardians.
"“We just feel like it’s time to retire Warpaint,” Donovan said. “Lots of reasons for that, but we just feel like it’s the right thing to do. So Warpaint won’t be running at Arrowhead anymore.”"
“IT’S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.” I @Chiefs president Mark Donovan says longtime mascot Warpaint will no longer run at Arrowhead. Local groups have long argued the team’s chop and Warpaint traditions and even its name itself is derogatory to Native Americans https://t.co/gAPbNVnMbe pic.twitter.com/paVl2IAH7z
— KMBC (@kmbc) July 26, 2021
While the current iteration of Warpaint was introduced in 2009, the history behind the horse goes back a little further.
"“In 2009, the Chiefs wanted to bring Warpaint back for the franchise’s 50th anniversary. The club re-introduced Warpaint for the first regular season home game of the year.”"
Despite the criticisms, Fairuza Balk's performance as Mildred Hubble has become iconic in its own right. Many fans of the series grew up watching the 1986 TV movie and have fond memories of Balk's portrayal. Her energetic and charismatic performance brought a new dimension to the character and introduced a new generation of children to the world of The Worst Witch. It's important to note that casting decisions are always subjective, and what one person may view as the "worst" casting choice, another person may believe to be perfect. In the case of Fairuza Balk as the worst witch, opinions are varied, but what remains indisputable is the impact her performance had on the legacy of The Worst Witch..
Reviews for "Fairuza Balk Takes on Witchcraft as the Worst Witch"
1. Lisa - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with Fairuza Balk's portrayal of the Worst Witch. She lacked the charm and whimsy that made the character so endearing in the books and previous adaptations. Balk's performance felt forced and awkward, and it seemed like she was trying too hard to capture the essence of the character. Overall, I felt that her casting was a poor choice and it made it difficult for me to fully enjoy the show.
2. Mike - 1/5 - Fairuza Balk's portrayal of the Worst Witch was simply terrible. She completely missed the mark in capturing the essence of the character. Her acting seemed flat and uninspired, and there was no chemistry between her and the other cast members. It felt like she was just going through the motions instead of truly embracing the role. As a fan of the book series, I was really disappointed with this casting choice and it ruined the show for me.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - I had high hopes for Fairuza Balk's portrayal of the Worst Witch, but she fell short of my expectations. Her performance lacked the warmth and likability that the character is known for. Balk's interpretation felt cold and distant, and it was difficult to connect with her on an emotional level. Additionally, her delivery of the dialogue felt stilted and unnatural. Overall, I was left disappointed with her performance and it detracted from the overall enjoyment of the show.