HBO Max has removed Gone with the Wind from its streaming service following an op-ed calling for its removal, as well as the ongoing Black Lives Matter Protests. Gone with the Wind is considered a cinema classic, set during the Civil War and its aftermath. It follows Scarlett O'Hara (Vivien Leigh), who's the daughter of a plantation owner. The movie was critically beloved at the time of its release, earning an impressive ten Academy Awards. However, since Gone with the Wind came out in 1939, its glorification of slavery has gained increased attention.
In the wake of the protests stemming from the murder of George Floyd, many networks and streaming services have taken a hard look at their content. For example, Netflix faced scrutiny when The Help became its top-viewed movie, leading many to point out there are far better films honoring Black voices. Meanwhile, the shows Cops and Live PD were pulled among calls for an end to police brutality. All told, Hollywood is reconsidering movies and TV shows both past and present and the impact they have now.
Just yesterday, 12 Years a Slave screenwriter John Ridley called attention to Gone with the Wind specifically. In an op-ed for the Los Angeles Times, he called for the movie's removal from HBO Max, at least for now. Ridley said in part, "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." Now, HBO Max has quietly removed Gone with the Wind, in a move that wasn't announced ahead of time. Though Ridley's op-ed isn't confirmed to be the reason why, it seems likely it, coupled with the Black Lives Matter protests, played a key role.
More to come...
Source: Los Angeles Times
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