Name: Hulu criticized for pulling 'Golden Girls' mud mask episode: It's 'not blackface'
Brand: today.com
SKU: today-com-16
Availability: OnlineOnly

critic

Hulu criticized for pulling 'Golden Girls' mud mask episode: It's 'not blackface'

preview

IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.SKIP TO CONTENTBy After Hulu recently removed an episode of from its platform, critics are calling the streaming giant's decision an "overcorrection."The episode in question, titled "Mixed Blessings," originally aired on NBC in 1988. It revolves around Dorothy, played by Beatrice Arthur, being concerned that her son is marrying a considerably older woman, Lorraine, played by Rosalind Cash. Meanwhile, Lorraine's mother, played by Virginia Capers, is upset because Dorothy's son is white and her daughter is Black.The controversial scene comes when two of Dorothy's friends — Rose, played by , and Blanche, played by Rue McClanahan — are trying out a mud face mask and meet Lorraine's family for the first time."This is mud on our faces. We’re not really Black," Rose says, per .Twitter users were quick to criticize Hulu's decision, with the most prevalent argument being that the characters weren't actually wearing blackface., "Removing this episode is weird, counterproductive and stupid. It diminishes the effort to actually end racism. It’s just so dumb."Removing this episode is weird, counterproductive and stupid. It diminishes the effort to actually end racism. It’s just so dumb.— roxane gay (@rgay) Podcaster and author Erica Williams Simon : "First of all, they were in mud masks not blackface. And second of all, in what world does 'Stop killing us' sound like 'Please remove episodes of Golden Girls'? I didn't see that ask on anyone's protest sign."She continued in a follow-up tweet, "To be clear: I’m not 'attacking' Hulu. I would just hate for the seriousness of this moment and movement to get lost in symbolic (and sometimes silly) overcorrections."To be clear: I’m not “attacking” Hulu. I would just hate for the seriousness of this moment and movement to get lost in symbolic (and sometimes silly) overcorrections. Impact on real lives should be the measure of any change worthy of a PR push.— erica williams simon (@missewill) Journalist and blogger Imani Gandy questioned the decision by sharing her support for "The Golden Girls" characters."I like how they think Black people don’t know our Golden Girls," . "Dorothy, Rose, Sophia and Blanche are the least problematic white women in all of television, which is fairly impressive considering that show was on air in the ... mid-80s."One user who goes by Raevin on Twitter removing the episode "a calculated effort to cheapen our message." Another that "Mud facials and Black people aren’t synonymous."Yeah, these companies and media platforms are trivializing the situation by sending the message that our demand for justice is as petty as removing episodes of the Golden Girls off a streaming platform. This is a calculated effort to cheapen our message. — raevin (@raeviin) Black people didn’t ask you to take down that Golden Girls episode. Mud facials and black people aren’t synonymous. And by taking the episode down, you rob of us incredible black talent like Rosalind Cash &amp; Virginia Capers.— Tori Griffin (@torigriffin) Hulu's decision follows several other distributors removing TV scenes with depictions of blackface.Earlier this month, Tina Fey which originally aired on NBC, be pulled from streaming services and syndication, as they feature characters in blackface. The episodes in question are also no longer available to purchase on iTunes or Google Play.“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 wrote in a statement. “I understand now that ‘intent’ is not a free pass for white people to use these images. 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. I thank NBCUniversal for honoring this request.”(NBCUniversal is also the parent company of NBC News.)Hulu did not immediately respond to TODAY's request for comment. It is unclear whether the episode of "The Golden Girls" will return to the streaming platform.Francesca Gariano is a New York City-based freelance journalist reporting on culture, entertainment, beauty, lifestyle and wellness. She is a freelance contributor to TODAY.com,&nbsp;where she covers pop culture and breaking news.

IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.SKIP TO CONTENTBy After Hulu recently removed an episode of from its platform, critics are calling the streaming giant's decision an "overcorrection."The episode in question, titled "Mixed Blessings," originally aired on NBC in 1988. It revolves around Dorothy, played by Beatrice Arthur, being concerned that her son is marrying a considerably older woman, Lorraine, played by Rosalind Cash. Meanwhile, Lorraine's mother, played by Virginia Capers, is upset because Dorothy's son is white and her daughter is...

Hulu criticized for pulling 'Golden Girls' mud mask episode: It's 'not blackface'

No article scores yet.

CRITIC REVIEWS

PUBLIC REVIEWS