HBO addresses backlash to slavery-themed alternate history show ‘Confederate’

HBO’s new slavery-themed project ‘Confederate’ has been the subject of controversy since the moment it was announced.

News Deskbdnews24.com
Published : 31 July 2017, 09:16 AM
Updated : 31 July 2017, 09:16 AM

On Jul 19, HBO gave a series order to ‘Confederate,’ which hails from ‘Game of Thrones’ executive producers David Benioff and DB Weiss, along with Malcolm Spellman and Nichelle Tramble Spellman. The series takes place in an alternate timeline, where the southern states have successfully seceded from the Union, giving rise to a nation in which slavery remains legal and has evolved into a modern institution.

A grassroots campaign on Sunday got the hashtag #NoConfederate trending on Twitter. The campaign was organised by April Reign, the activist behind #OscarsSoWhite, to coordinate with the airing of “Game of Thrones.” By speaking out now, she said she hoped to prevent the production of the show before it gets written or cast.

“We believe the time to speak up is now, before the show has been written or cast. Before HBO invests too much money into #Confederate.” She tweeted.

The tag reached the top of Twitter’s trending list in the US and landed at No. 2 worldwide.

HBO responded to the backlash with a statement: “We have great respect for the dialogue and concern being expressed around ‘Confederate.’ We have faith that Nichelle, Dan, David and Malcolm will approach the subject with care and sensitivity. The project is currently in its infancy so we hope that people will reserve judgment until there is something to see.”

Critics immediately challenged the project, questioning the wisdom of a project reviving slavery. Much of the criticism directed at HBO has been at the potential repercussions of portraying modern slavery in a way that might inflame real-life race relations.

HBO’s programming president Casey Bloys insisted that the portrayal will be nuanced. In an interview with Vulture, the producers explained that their narrative isn’t a defence of slavery or an endorsement of white supremacist ideas.

“This is not a world in which the entire country is enslaved,” he said. “Slavery is in one half of the country. And the North is the North.”

Bloys addressed the controversy during his presentation at the Television Critics Association press tour earlier this week. “Our mistake -- HBO’s mistake, not the producers -- was the idea that we would be able to announce an idea that is so sensitive and requires such care and thought on the part of the producers in a press release was misguided on our part,” he said.

He insisted the subject matter will be handled delicately. “The producers have said they’re not looking to do ‘Gone With the Wind’ 2017,” Bloys said. “It’s not whips and plantations. It’s what they imagine a modern day institution of slavery would look like.” He urged viewers to withhold judgment until seeing the show.

“All we can do is ask that people judge the final product of these artists and not what it could be or might be.”