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.
A&E - Arts & Entertainment - what a joke.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of jokes, I like this article -
http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/26/opinions/laughing-at-trump-crilly-opinion/
If they're so committed to the public, why make the series in the first place?
ReplyDeleteNo. I do not want to see these hate filled idiots normalized talking about how they just want to love their heritage not hate other people. A&E would have them hugging their nieces nephews and children at picnics and bringing their mothers flowers for their birthday. Then at the end of that they would walk off in a hood down the street with a child hand in hand.
ReplyDeleteReality, docuseries, or whatever you call this bullshit many in this country are being held captive by, is destroying the place. I bring you the country's game show host in Chief-elect.
Don't want to watch the new KKK? There are Americans who would like to see what the new KKK is about. Pretty soon closet KKKs will go to work, school and church in our traditional uniform.
Delete"There are Americans who would like to see what the new KKK is about."
Delete---------------
It is about the same thing the kkk has always been about. Hatred and jealousy.
People who feel petty and inferior and pathetic and small (because they are) who have to convince themselves that they are superior to other people just by their skin color or religion.
Pathetic losers, every last one of them, including you.
It will come out. They'll wait for the shit storm to die down. Or it will be online. Snuck on to YouTube. Something. But it will get out.
ReplyDeleteJust watched Tony Bennett's 90th Birthday Special.
ReplyDeleteWhat a list of stars, including Alec Baldwin hosting. Lady Gaga, Elton John, Michael Bublé, Andrea Bocelli, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel.
They were all there (and they probably had to turn celebrities down for lack of time) because they all love Tony Bennett and want to honor him. (BTW his closing number was phenomenal. He's 90?!)
Donald Trump must be livid that he is so despised he can't get anyone for his inauguration that people don't respond with either revulsion or "who the hell is that?" Let's keep the Trump poison going and shun him at every turn. Delete him from your twitter feed, don't watch him on TV or YouTube. When anyone references him respond with Trump who? And when anyone refers to the President, ask "You mean Obama?"
Ignoring and dismissing him is the best revenge.
Exactly what I'm doing!
DeleteWho said the Donald can't get anyone, you?
DeleteThe Donald said he has
A-listed performers lined up. Get over it and move on.
Anonymous 5:04--you wrote "The Donald said he has A-listed performers lined up."
DeleteI don't believe what Donnie Drumpf says, but you obviously do. Time will tell.
Are the Hooter girls considered A-list performers?
DeleteKid Rock, Ted Nugent, the runner up to the America's Got Talent of 2010 and the forced labor of The Rockettes.
DeleteCan't hold a candle to those that celebrated the life of Tony Bennett.
Donald will always be A LOSER!
Do you not pay Denzel Washington, the people on Blackish and Darth Vader? Then why can't my people get paid? That's what you call discrimination against the white man.
ReplyDelete5:10 no need for that.
Delete"Your" people can get paid, you cretinous dolt. If people want to pay them. Denzel, Blackish, and Darth Vader* don't celebrate the superiority of one race over another as the kkk does.
Delete*Hard to tell whether you are talking about the fictional character covered in a black costume or the actual live human that plays him.
I can see the Palin children, Dakota and Todd upset they can't watch the docuseries and I can see Sarah pretending to be upset but we know how Sarah originally felt about President Obama until he publicly snubbed her and we know about what happened in Alaska when Sarah was doing in order to get interviews. Down inside Sarah knows what gets her worked up.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard for me to imagine the stupidity of the people running A&E. Surely, at some point in an American's education, there is some mention of the venality and evil that the KKK has always represented.
ReplyDeleteMy father remembers when, in the 1920's, crosses were burned in our hometown, a suburb of Philadelphia where the Constitution was written. By the 1920's, black families and churches were primarily targeted. In the north, the crazy group specialized in burning crosses, not in murder and hangings. When it was first begun in the 1850's, KKK hatred was focused on Catholics (mainly Irish immigrants), Jews and African Americans. I wonder if they've broadened their hateful horizons to include Muslims and other immigrants now as well.
What ever in the universe would indicate to television producers that members of this group deserved to be portrayed as ordinary tax-paying Americans? They have always represented the antithesis of American values.
Beaglemom