A&E Cancels KKK Docu-series Over Payments to Participants

A&E has announced that the network has canceled its upcoming controversial KKK docu-series after it was discovered that nominal payments were made to participants.

After the show received criticism this past week, the network announced the title would be changed from Generation KKK to Escaping the KKK: A Documentary Series Exposing Hate in America.

Just one day later, the network made the announcement that the series will not air after all. The show was scheduled to begin airing on January 10 for an eight-episode run.

Read the network’s new statement…

“Our goal with this series has always been to expose and combat racism and hatred in all its forms,” the statement from the network read. “However, A&E learned last night from the third-party producers who made the documentary that cash payments – which we currently understand to be nominal – were made in the field to some participants in order to facilitate access. While we stand behind the intent of the series and the seriousness of the content, these payments are a direct violation of A&E’s policies and practices for a documentary. We had previously provided assurances to the public and to our core partners – including the Anti-Defamation League and Color of Change – that no payment was made to hate group members, and we believed that to be the case at the time. We have now decided not to move forward with airing this project.”

“A&E takes the authenticity of its documentary programming and the subject of racism, hatred and violence very seriously. Just because this particular show goes away, the issues of hate in America do not. We will still seek to fight hate in America through on-air programming including town halls and documentary programs produced in partnership with civil rights organizations, as well as continue to work with the civil rights community to facilitate a deeper dialogue on ending hate through comprehensive educational and outreach campaigns.”