Netflix removes Chris Lilley shows amid racism row – but BBC stands by comedian’s N-word and blackface sketches
NETFLIX has removed several of Chris Lilley’s controversial shows from its platform that feature the N-word and blackface sketches – but viewers can still watch on BBC iPlayer. Despite both channels being in agreement over the removal of episodes of Little Britain from their libraries, differences of opinions are emerging about other shows. In support […]
NETFLIX has removed several of Chris Lilley’s controversial shows from its platform that feature the N-word and blackface sketches – but viewers can still watch on BBC iPlayer.
Despite both channels being in agreement over the removal of episodes of Little Britain from their libraries, differences of opinions are emerging about other shows.
In support of the Black Lives Matter movement, Netflix made the decision to remove four shows from comedian Chris Lilley from its services in Australia and New Zealand.
It includes Angry Boys, Summer Heights High, We Can Be Heroes, and Jonah From Tonga as they all feature characters that have sparked questions over racial discrimination.
Lilley, a white actor, uses brown make-up to play characters called S.mouse in Angry Boys, and Jonah Takalua in Summer Heights High and Jonah From Tonga.
In We Can Be Heroes, the comedian plays Chinese physics student Ricky Wong.
While Netflix has declined to comment on the decision to remove the controversial shows by Chris Lilley, the BBC told Deadline Hollywood that its “decision to remove Little Britain impacts Little Britain alone”.
Summer Heights High and We Can Be Heroes are still available to watch on iPlayer, and there are also standalone clips of Angry Boys, featuring rapper S.mouse on the BBC Three website.
The 10 clips of S.mouse include a music video in which Lilley repeatedly uses the n-word and in another sketch, he raps about his “big black balls.”
In Little Britain – which aired from 2003 to 2007 – Walliams wore make up to play spa guest Desiree DeVere.
He also dressed up to play passenger liaison officer Moses Beacon and airline boss Omar Baba in In Come Fly With Me, which launched in 2010.
BBC and BritBox both confirmed the TV shows have been taken down, telling viewers: “Times have changed.”
A BBC spokesman added: “There’s a lot of historical programming available on BBC iPlayer, which we regularly review.
“Times have changed since Little Britain first aired so it is not currently available on BBC iPlayer.”
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BritBox, which streams ITV and BBC shows, added: “Times have changed since Little Britain first aired, so it is not currently available on BritBox. Come Fly With Me has not been available on the service for six months.”
Tens of thousands of protesters have been lining the streets following the death of black American George Floyd.
A video showed white police officer, Derek Chauvin, pressing his knee on the neck of the dying man – while he pleaded for air with his hands handcuffed behind him.
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