Facing backlash, A&E cancels new show about the KKK before it begins airing
A&E network says it’s canceling its new documentary about the Ku Klux Klan and its members before the show got a chance to debut on air. The show had faced significant public backlash across social media since it was first announced. The original title was supposed to be “Generation KKK,” which various online detractors claimed was a glorification of the racist hate group. But even after a proposed title change, the show is now officially doomed.
The network had tried to salvage the show by changing the name to “Escaping the KKK: A Documentary Series Exposing Hate in America” and working with civil rights groups to try to make sure the Klan and its members weren’t glamorized in any way. But the gig was up once it surfaced that some KKK members were set to profit from the show. Here’s the official statement from A&E, which is posted to its own website:
“The documentary ‘Escaping the KKK’ was intended to serve as a close look at anti-hate extractors focused on helping people leave the Ku Klux Klan—the racist hate group with a long history of violence against African Americans and others. Our goal with this series has always been to expose and combat racism and hatred in all its forms.
However, 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. 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. We had previously provided assurances to the public and to our core partners – including the Anti-Defamation League and Color of Change – that no payment was made to hate group members, and we believed that to be the case at the time. We have now decided not to move forward with airing this project.
A&E takes the authenticity of its documentary programming and the subject of racism, hatred and violence very seriously. Just because this particular show goes away, the issues of hate in America do not. We will still seek to fight hate in America through on-air programming including town halls and documentary programs produced in partnership with civil rights organizations, as well as continue to work with the civil rights community to facilitate a deeper dialogue on ending hate through comprehensive educational and outreach campaigns.”
After the announcement, the term “A&E’s KKK” became a trending topic on Twitter, as various social media users celebrated the show’s demise – and some continued to question why A&E would have chosen to get tangled up with such a dicey project to begin with.
