Tina Fey asks for ’30 Rock’ blackface episodes to be pulled from NBC’s streaming service
Actress and producer Tina Fey has requested that four episodes of “30 Rock” be pulled from NBCUniversal’s streaming service for their use of blackface, Variety reported.
“I understand now that ‘intent’ is not a free pass for white people to use these images,” Fey said in a note obtained by Variety. “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,” she added. “I thank NBCUniversal for honoring this request.”
A source told Variety the episodes would be removed by the end of the week.
Fey’s request comes as fellow “Saturday Night Live” alum Jimmy Fallon recently apologized for a blackface skit he did on the NBC sketch comedy show in 2000.
“In 2000, while on SNL, I made a terrible decision to do an impersonation of Chris Rock while in blackface,” Fallon said on Twitter in late May following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. “There is no excuse for this. I am very sorry for making this unquestionably offensive decision and thank all of you for holding me accountable.”
Several programs have been canceled in recent weeks following Floyd’s death, which sparked mass protests nationwide, including the highly rated “Live PD” by A&E and “Cops,” which aired for 31 years, by Paramount TV.
“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 also said.
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