Multiple episodes the show feature characters in Blackface, and a few them have been permanently taken down from streaming services.
Fans the popular show 30 Rock will see that a few episodes missing from streaming services from here on out. In recent months, many celebrities are being criticized for their work, whether it’s because something they’ve said or for donning Blackface in the past. Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Howard Stern, and others have been called to the carpet about their Blackface jokes, and now Tina Fey, co-creator and star 30 Rock, formally requested that a series episodes from the show be pulled permanently.
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According to Vulture, Tina Fey penned a letter to streaming services asking for specific episodes to be shelved. “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 circulation,” Tina Fey reportedly wrote. “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.”
It’s reported that two the episodes star Jane Krakowski as Jenna Maroney as her character wears darker makeup. In one, she switches ethnicities with Tracy Morgan (he dresses up as a White woman), and in another, Krakowski dresses up as Lynn Swann, former Pittsburgh Steelers star. There’s also an episode that shows Jon Hamm in Blackface as he parodied Amos N’ Andy, but curiously, only the east coast “Live Show” version will be taken down while the west coast version will reportedly stay available. It’s unclear why that decision was made. Check out a few stills from the controversial episodes below.