Here's Why 'Mad Men's Blackface Episode Will Not Be Pulled From Streaming

Lionsgate has decided to keep up the episode of the AMC series Mad Men that features blackface.

The LA Times reports that the episode in question, season 3′s “My Old Kentucky Home”, will be shown in its entirety.

“This episode contains disturbing images related to race in America,” an intro card ahead of the episode will read, the paper says. “One of the characters is shown in blackface as part of an episode that shows how commonplace racism was in America in 1963.

In a statement about why the episode will not be taken down, Lionsgate says that “in its reliance on historical authenticity, the series producers are committed to exposing the injustices and inequities within our society that continue to this day so we can examine even the most painful parts of our history in order to reflect on who we are today and who we want to become. We are therefore presenting the original episode in its entirety.”

The episode sees Roger Sterling wear blackface while serenading Jane with a rendition of “My Old Kentucky Home” at a country club Derby party.

Other shows, including 30 Rock, Golden Girls, Scrubs and many others have pulled their own episodes featuring blackface.

Mad Men will begin streaming on IMDb TV on July 15.