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Amazon, the leading global e-commerce platform, has faced criticism following its acquisition of the ‘007 series’ rights and the start of its streaming on Prime this month. The controversy arises from the exclusion of classic features like the pistol and Bond girls from promotional materials. Opponents claim that Amazon’s over-cautious approach to content deemed violent or sexual has unintentionally ignited a ‘woke’ (a term used to mock extreme political correctness) discussion.

Amazon recently introduced 007 streaming on Prime, modifying online posters to remove pistols or Bond girls. Consequently, the gun held by Sean Connery, the first James Bond, in the original poster for the series’ first film *Dr. No* (1962), was removed. The same change was applied to Pierce Brosnan’s appearance in *GoldenEye* (1995). For the *Spectre* (2015) poster, Daniel Craig’s sixth portrayal of Bond was edited to conceal his right hand holding a weapon.

Bond women also disappeared from Amazon Prime’s promotional materials. The original *Moonraker* (1979) poster showcased several Bond girls in space suits around Roger Moore, the third James Bond. However, Amazon’s version shows Moore by himself, looking into the distance without any weapons or female characters, with a scene from the movie that also excludes guns. The removal of guns and Bond girls from all series posters led to significant backlash and ridicule directed at Amazon and its founder, Jeff Bezos.

Criticism grew stronger in the U.K., the birthplace of 007’s original writer, Ian Fleming. The Sun, a tabloid newspaper, criticized the modifications as being driven by ‘woke’ ideas. The Register, a technology-oriented publication, joked, “Jeff Bezos has removed the gun that no villain could steal for 60 years.” Social media was filled with humorous posts showing Bond holding sandwiches or kitchen items rather than firearms. Bezos, who openly supported the re-elected U.S. President Donald Trump, has been questioned about whether these changes mirror Trump’s firm stance against political correctness.

The James Bond franchise, which includes 25 movies over 63 years, has featured many famous actors and memorable theme songs. Following Amazon’s acquisition of all rights in February, upcoming films will be developed by MGM Studios under Amazon’s ownership. Nevertheless, the poster controversy has sparked worries that future entries could stray from the series’ original spirit. Amazon is currently working on a new James Bond film, directed by Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Dune), with the main actor still to be revealed.