‘I don’t want us to laugh at each other, I want us to laugh with each other’

It’s been a stormy week for South African filmmaker Leon Schuster as his collection of comedic work over the years has come under scrutiny for racial insensitivity.

As the reach of the Black Lives Matter movement expands outside the borders of the United States important and long-overdue conversations around race are finally being addressed, unpacked, and discussed with the temerity they deserve.

One strain of the conversations within the entertainment industry asks how racially insensitive content, and the use of blackface in the past, is being addressed within modern society.

Online streaming services like BBC iPlayer and Netflix have taken immediate action and instantly removed shows like Little Britain and The Mighty Boosh from its platforms for using blackface.

On Tuesday, it was announced that four episodes of 30 Rock, including two featuring Jane Krakowski’s Jenna character in blackface, were removed from subscription streaming services Hulu and Amazon Prime, reports Vulture.

Tina Fey, creator and star of 30 Rock, wrote in a letter to the platforms: “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 of circulation. I understand now that ‘intent’ is not a free pass for white people to use these images. I apologise 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 honouring this request.”

Deadline reports that HBO Max took down the 1939 film Gone With The Wind due to its depictions of “ethnic and racial prejudices” and would add it back with historical context provided by film scholar Jacqueline Stewart via a new introduction that will appear before the film.

Blackface has a disturbing history dating back centuries and its implications are deeply rooted in oppression. “The use of blackface was particularly prominent in the 1800s as a reaction to anti-slavery campaigns and was a means of mocking Black people. It played into attitudes and ideologies that underpinned transatlantic slavery and segregation,” reports Digital Spy.

Jane Coaston of Vox writes: “Blackface is idiotic, and it is also tremendously racist, every single time it’s done, by (politicians), celebrities and comedians. Such a judgement does not require an examination of the inner workings of the human heart of the person wearing blackface. Such a judgement requires merely the willingness to look.”

Jane argues further in her article that intent and the commonness of blackface does not defang it and that it warrants denouncing, whether it takes place now or in the past.

South African streaming service Showmax is doing just that in actively reviewing the content it makes available online. Netwerk24 last week reported that Showmax was reviewing six of Schuster’s films for racial insensitivity.

Richard Boorman, head of communication for Showmax, confirmed to Channel24 last week that several films have been removed from the platform, pending a review of all content that could possibly be racially insensitive.

The streaming service is yet to announce a final decision on how it will deal with the content as it navigates the precarious position it finds itself in.

The films currently being reviewed include You Must Be Joking, You Must Be Joking Too, Oh Schucks . . . It’s Schuster, Sweet ‘n Short, Schuks! Pay Back the Money, and Frank and Fearless.

Leon’s voice sounds tired and defeated when I reach him on the phone on Wednesday morning. Although he’s still in bed, he’s been awake and has been doing interviews since 05:00 he tells me.

The comedian known for his jovial demeanour is much more reserved and cautious when speaking about the topic that has seen social media divided into two distinct camps — those that support Showmax’s decision and those that don’t see an issue with the content at all.

“I have to admit, I was shocked at first, but I’m willing to listen. If this content causes anyone harm, then I don’t want to do it,” Leon says without hesitation.

He adds: “When the films were released, the cinemas were packed shoulder-to-shoulder with people of all races, genders and ages that laughed and enjoyed the films. But the political climate has changed, and I don’t want to add fuel to the fire. When the people speak, I listen.” — News24