ViacomCBS Networks Go Dark In Solidarity With #BlackLivesMatter, Other Networks Speak Out

 

 

 

Today is Blackout Tuesday across the media spectrums, whether it’s social, broadcast, or anything in between, the biggest companies in the world are uniting around one cause…#BlackLivesMatter.

The hashtag has reignited protests across Planet Earth all stemming from the recent murder of George Floyd by multiple police officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota only just a week ago. To help support the protest ViacomCBS posted a video spot for eight minutes and 46 seconds, the amount of time it took for the PD officers to kill George, across Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, MTV, and other major networks.

Likewise, networks like FOX have posted messages across every social channel they have, including ones for The Simpsons, Family Guy, and other properties, hoping to inspire a message of solidarity and hope against the backdrop of looting, protests, and violence.

Virtue signaling has seen it’s share of dunks though. Looking for a way to adhere to millennial viewers/fans, Hank Azaria Tweeted a parallel between the #BlackLivesMatter movement, and his recent decent to retire the much-maligned Emmy-winning “Apu” character on The Simpsons. Instead, fans from across the world dunked on Hank’s signal boosting efforts and he hasn’t been heard from since, most commenters disputing Hank’s claims against the character which clearly were as a result of bad advice he’s receiving from his chaos PR team and not from actual insight (note, Hank hasn’t spoken out other stereotypical characters he’s voiced like Comic Book Guy, Bumblebee Man, Tatum, etc).

Interestingly enough, one of Hank’s characters, “Chief Wiggum“, has been maliciously used in a fake attempt to accuse The Simpsons in predicting the George Floyd incident. Note, that this image is a doctored up drawing that has nothing to do with the show and should be treated as such.

Our Take

As can be seen, most are using #BlackLivesMatter as a means to end racism. Others, as a marketing tool for extreme censorship. There’s a difference, it’s important that we understand this and move forward.