*”30 Rock” series star and creator Tina Fey has called for streaming platforms that carry the comedy series to remove four episodes that feature characters in blackface.
NBCUniversal will vault the episodes at the request of Fey and executive producer Robert Carlock, Complex reports.
“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 said in a statement. “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.”
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Tina Fey also has a shitty track record when it comes to depicting Asian people, women in particular. Mean Girls, Sisters, 30 Rock — the underlying “joke” is that they’re hyper-sexual, and looking for green cards/can’t speak English.
— alex (@alex_abads) June 23, 2020
The episodes expected to be removed from Hulu, Amazon Prime, iTunes, and Google Play include: “Believe In The Stars,” from Season 3, episode 2; “Christmas Attack Zone,” from Season 5, episode 10; “Live from Studio 6H,” Season 6, episode 19; the east coast version of “The Live Show” from Season 5, episode 4.
In related news, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel apologized Tuesday for his 1990s blackface impressions, including NBA icon Karl Malone, CBS News reports.
“I apologize to those who were genuinely hurt or offended by the makeup I wore or the words I spoke,” he said in a statement.
“Looking back, many of these sketches are embarrassing, and it is frustrating that these thoughtless moments have become a weapon used by some to diminish my criticisms of social and other injustices,” he added.
Jimmy Kimmel in Blackface.
This is hard to find on YouTube even if you type word for word the title of the video, i had to go back to History to find the video I just stumbled upon.
Retweet and make this go viral for some accountability.#BLM #BlackFaceKimmel pic.twitter.com/q1thT4LLCw— A Son of God (@mesonofgod) June 20, 2020
Kimmel claims he has been reluctant to address the subject, “as I knew doing so would be celebrated as a victory by those who equate apologies with weakness and cheer for leaders who use prejudice to divide us.”
“That delay was a mistake,” he said.
“I know that this will not be the last I hear of this and that it will be used again to try to quiet me,” he added. “I love this country too much to allow that. I won’t be bullied into silence by those who feign outrage to advance their oppressive and genuinely racist agendas.”
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