At the request of Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, NBCUniversal has removed episodes of “30 Rock” that feature characters in blackface from both TV syndication and streaming services.
Episodes will also no longer be available to purchase on streaming services including Hulu, Amazon Prime, iTunes and Google Play. Episodes will also no longer air via satellite, cable or over the air.
Fey, the creator of “30 Rock” along with executive producer Robert Carlock requested that four episodes be removed according to Deadline:
- Season 3 Episode 2 -- “Believe In The Stars”
- Season 5 Episode 10 -- “Christmas Attack Zone”
- Season 6 Episode 19 -- “Live from Studio 6H”
- Season 5 Episode 4 (East coast version) -- “The Live Show”
Fey released a statement obtained by Variety apologizing for the episodes:
As we strive to do the work and do better in regards to race in America, we believe that these episodes featuring actors in race-changing makeup are best taken out of circulation,” Fey wrote in a letter to the platforms that streamed or sold 30 Rock. “I understand now that ‘intent’ is not a free pass for white people to use these images. I apologize for pain they have caused. Going forward, no comedy-loving kid needs to stumble on these tropes and be stung by their ugliness. I thank NBCUniversal for honoring this request.
Earlier this month, HBO Max temporarily removed “Gone With the Wind” from its streaming library in order to add historical context to the 1939 film long criticized for romanticizing slavery and the Civil War-era South.
Protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death have forced entertainment companies to grapple with the appropriateness of both current and past productions. On Tuesday, the Paramount Network dropped the long-running reality series “Cops” after 33 seasons. The BBC also removed episodes of “Little Britain,” a comedy series that featured a character in blackface, from its streaming service.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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