In this December 19, 1939 file photo, a crowd gathers outside the Astor Theater on Broadway during the premiere of "Gone With the Wind" in New York. HBO Max has temporarily removed “Gone With the Wind” from its streaming library to add historical context to the 1939 film long criticized for romanticizing slavery and the Civil War-era South. Protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death have forced entertainment companies to grapple with the appropriateness of both current and past productions. The BBC also removed episodes of “Little Britain,” a comedy series that featured a character in blackface, from its streaming service. “Gone With the Wind” has long been denounced for featuring slave characters who remain loyal to their former owners after the abolition of slavery.

Source: The Standard June 10, 2020 14:48 UTC