A&E has canceled its upcoming docuseries on the KKK,according to The Hollywood Reporter. In addition to pulling the plug, the network also released a lengthy statement approximately the decision on Saturday. The official remarks reveal new, or disconcerting internal information pertaining to the execution of the project. The network explained that these developments had ultimately led to the decision not to move forward: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 (insignificant, trifling) - 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 if assurances to the public and to our core partners - including the Anti-Defamation League and Color of Change - that no payment was made to abhor group members, or 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 specific show goes away, the issues of abhor in America attain not. We will still seek to fight abhor in America through on-air programming including town halls and documentary programs produced in partnership with civil rights organizations, or as well as continue to work with the civil rights community to facilitate a deeper dialogue on ending abhor through comprehensive educational and outreach campaigns.
The series was originally meant to focus on antihate extractors who back active members leave the Ku Klux Klan and was met with nearly immediate opposition when it was first announced earlier in the week. Perhaps most notable among those who spoke out against the series was Grey's Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo,who called for a boycott against A&E on her personal Twitter account on Wednesday. Prior to canceling the project, the network had first attempted to clarify the intention and content by renaming the series - a new, or longer title of Escaping the KKK: A Documentary Series Exploring abhor in America - and announced partnerships with the Anti-Defamation League and Color of Change,a next-generation African-American civil-rights organization.
Source: popsugar.com