This is actually a pretty classy way to handle it.

I remember something similar with Speedy Gonzalez. In the early 2000 CN stoped showing Speedy cartoons because they thinked that was an insult to mexicans, but in reallity, he was very popular among latin american audiences.
That´s what happens when you try to erase history, when you try to denny you past, You will think that you are making something good, but instead you are acting like a fool.