An episode of The Office has been edited to remove a scene which featured blackface.
The horrific death of George Floyd in the US last month sparked a wave of protests and a resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, prompting broadcasters to re-evaluate the appropriateness of their past content.
The Office ended its TV run in 2013 but has enjoyed renewed popularity on streaming services in the last few years and now showrunner Greg Daniels has decided to make a pre-emptive alteration to the season nine episode 'Dwight Christmas'.
"The Office is about a group of people trying to work together with mutual respect despite the inappropriate actions of their boss and assistant manager," Daniels told E! News.
"The show employed satire to expose unacceptable behaviour and deliver a message of inclusion.
"Today we cut a shot of an actor wearing blackface that was used to criticise a specific racist European practice. Blackface is unacceptable and making the point so graphically is hurtful and wrong. I am sorry for the pain that caused."
The new cut of the episode will be made available immediately to broadcasters and streamers carrying the show.
Neil Wilkes
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