Hours after releasing the first trailer for its upcoming, controversial docuseries Escaping the KKK, A&E announced it has “decided not to move forward with airing this project,” according to a network statement released Saturday.
A&E says its decision stems from ethical questions surrounding the production of the docuseries. “A&E learned last night from the third-party producers who made the documentary that cash payments — which we currently understand to be nominal — were made in the field to some participants in order to facilitate access,” A&E wrote. “While we stand behind the intent of the series and the seriousness of the content, these payments are a direct violation of A&E’s policies and practices for a documentary.”
These payments, A&E explained, also went against commitments it had made to anti-hate organizations before filming commenced. “We had previously provided assurances to the public and to our core partners — including the Anti-Defamation League and Color of Chance — that no payment was made to hate group members, and we believed that to be the case at the time,” the statement read.
If the only reason that A&E cancelled this atrocity was due to the payments, then they still have a lot to learn about responsible programming.
This thing was a shit storm since the beginning, in fact they already had to change the title from "Generation KKK" after receiving well deserved criticism.
Personally I think that with the White Supremacist-in-Chief occupying the highest office in the land the job of journalists, film makers, and artists is to expose and defy his new world order.
NOT provide cover for him and his followers.
