Gone with the Wind has temporarily been removed from HBO Max for its depiction of slavery and Black lives in the Civil War era. The platform intends to upload Victor Fleming's 1939 film again in the future, but not before a discussion of its context within history and a denouncement of its racist depictions is made.
In a statement to the media, HBO explained the removal of the film does not mean it will be gone forever. Rather, the opposite — the platform intends to put the film back up in time so as not to ignore the historical significance of racism in America.
The statement from HBO reads as follows:
Gone with the Wind is a product of its time and depicts some of the ethnic and racial prejudices that have, unfortunately, been commonplace in American society. These racist depictions were wrong then and are wrong today, and we felt that to keep this title up without an explanation and a denouncement of those depictions would be irresponsible. These depictions are certainly counter to WarnerMedia's values, so when we return the film to HBO Max, it will return with a discussion of its historical context and a denouncement of those very depictions, but will be presented as it was originally created, because to do otherwise would be the same as claiming these prejudices never existed. If we are to create a more just, equitable and inclusive future, we must first acknowledge and understand our history.
HBO Max's takedown follows a direct callout from 12 Years a Slave screenwriter John Ridley in an op-ed for the Los Angeles Times titled "Hey, HBO, 'Gone With the Wind' romanticizes the horrors of slavery. Take it off your platform for now."
In the piece, Ridely wrote, "It is a film that glorifies the antebellum south. It is a film that, when it is not ignoring the horrors of slavery, pauses only to perpetuate some of the most painful stereotypes of people of color."
Earlier this week, a number of other titles have also disappeared from various platforms for problematic depictions of race. Meanwhile, Cineplex and the Criterion Channel have lifted streaming fees for films by Black directors and about Black lives.
Conversations across all industries have been sparked in recent weeks following the death of George Floyd, who died following a violent interaction with Minneapolis police.
Revisit the trailer for Gone with the Wind below.
In a statement to the media, HBO explained the removal of the film does not mean it will be gone forever. Rather, the opposite — the platform intends to put the film back up in time so as not to ignore the historical significance of racism in America.
The statement from HBO reads as follows:
Gone with the Wind is a product of its time and depicts some of the ethnic and racial prejudices that have, unfortunately, been commonplace in American society. These racist depictions were wrong then and are wrong today, and we felt that to keep this title up without an explanation and a denouncement of those depictions would be irresponsible. These depictions are certainly counter to WarnerMedia's values, so when we return the film to HBO Max, it will return with a discussion of its historical context and a denouncement of those very depictions, but will be presented as it was originally created, because to do otherwise would be the same as claiming these prejudices never existed. If we are to create a more just, equitable and inclusive future, we must first acknowledge and understand our history.
HBO Max's takedown follows a direct callout from 12 Years a Slave screenwriter John Ridley in an op-ed for the Los Angeles Times titled "Hey, HBO, 'Gone With the Wind' romanticizes the horrors of slavery. Take it off your platform for now."
In the piece, Ridely wrote, "It is a film that glorifies the antebellum south. It is a film that, when it is not ignoring the horrors of slavery, pauses only to perpetuate some of the most painful stereotypes of people of color."
Earlier this week, a number of other titles have also disappeared from various platforms for problematic depictions of race. Meanwhile, Cineplex and the Criterion Channel have lifted streaming fees for films by Black directors and about Black lives.
Conversations across all industries have been sparked in recent weeks following the death of George Floyd, who died following a violent interaction with Minneapolis police.
Revisit the trailer for Gone with the Wind below.
