NATIONWIDE -- It’s further evidence protests in the wake of the death of George Floyd are having a profound effect on the television landscape. Four episodes of the popular “30 Rock” that depict characters in blackface will be pulled from circulation.
The NBC comedy originally aired 2006 to 2013 and remains popular in syndication and is available to stream on platforms including iTunes, Amazon Prime, Hulu and Peacock.
The change comes at the behest of series creator and star Tina Fey.
In a note to distributors, Fey wrote, in part: ““I apologize for the pain they have caused. Going forward, no comedy-loving kid really needs to stumble on these tropes and be stung by their ugliness.”
The episodes in question aired in 2008 and 2010.
The move comes on the heels of HBO Max temporarily pulling “Gone With the Wind” from its streaming selection and the cancellation of both the long-running “Cops” and “Live PD.”
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Blackface is theatrical makeup principally worn by non-Black actors to represent a caricature of a Black person. It was a tradition in American theater for roughly 100 years, beginning around 1830. It contributed to the proliferation of Black stereotypes and has been regarded as offensive since at least the mid-20th century.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.