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Tina Fey Calls For Blackface Episodes Of 30 Rock To Be 'Taken Out Of Circulation' -- Fans React!

tina fey announces removal of 30 rock episodes with blackface

Blackface and stereotypes are NEVER funny!

30 Rock creators Tina Fey and Robert Carlock have asked streaming and syndication services, with the support of show owner NBCUniversal, to remove four episodes where characters appear in blackface.

Related: Tina Fey Wishes Ariana Grande Had Asked Her To Be In Thank U Next Video!

In a note sent to the platforms which streamed and sold the series, Fey wrote:

“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. 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.”

But why didn’t NBC come to the realization on their own that these problematic episodes shouldn’t have ever been created in the first place?? Or Tina and the actors involved?!

The episodes in question are “Believe In The Stars” (season 3, episode 2) and “Christmas Attack Zone” (season 5, episode 10) which both feature Jane Krakowski‘s character in blackface. In addition, the episodes “Live From Studio 6H” (season 6, episode 19), which features Jon Hamm in blackface in an Amos ‘n’ Andy parody, and “Live Show” (season 5, episode 4) where Hamm’s character has a hand transplant from a black man on death row which then tries to strangle him, are also being removed.

Hamm and Krakowski have yet to make any statements or apologies.

These episodes will no longer be available to stream on Amazon and Hulu, not air as televised reruns, and not be available for purchase on iTunes and Google Play. Finally!

So far, the fan reaction on Twitter has been somewhat mixed, with some praising her choice, but many saying the removal on its own isn’t enough:

“Nope. Leave them in, and let Tina Fey answer as to why she thought blackface was acceptable or funny in multiple episodes.”

“Four episodes…FOUR ..twice in one season alone. It’s been off the air for seven years but NOW they want to do this.”

“I want people do realize, NBC andTina Fey are only doing this because fo negative pressure they may feel if they keep it. Blackface was bad in 2013 when the show stopped airing and it’s bad now.

“NBC and Tina Fey didn’t LEARN anything over those 7 years and if they did thats sad”

“Tina Fey demanding to lockaway all the blackface 30 Rock episodes in the NBC vault is such a farce bc like…girl you wrote them…barely a decade ago?”

Other Twitics have begun to call out additional projects Fey has had a hand in, such as Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Mean Girls:

“Remember that time Tina Fey devoted an entire episode of Kimmy Schmidt to say that minorities complaining about racist portrayals should just stop being jerks? And did so using yellowface of all things?”

“Tina Fey is racist as hell, how am I just learning about this now :

– Black face in her show 30 Rock
– Yellow face in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
– Repeatedly using Asian stereotypes as the butt of a joke
– Cast white actors to play Native American roles in Kimmy Schmidt

This comes as platforms and streaming services are combing through their libraries for potentially racist material for removal. Just over two weeks ago, Gone With The Wind was removed from the newly-launched HBO Max platform, but will soon return with an introduction and warnings.

What are your thoughts, Perezcious readers??

[Image via NBCUniversal & WENN/Instar.]

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Jun 23, 2020 08:28am PDT