Black-ish season 4 episode discussing National Anthem protests will not air

For the past several years black-ish on ABC has become known as a series willing to take on difficult subjects and have serious conversations regarding a wide array of different subjects. With that in mind, we’re not surprised that they would film an episode that would take on an issue like National Anthem protests and players kneeling during sporting events.

What does surprise us, however, is hearing some of the reports right now that the network and the show’s producers have nixed one episode from the season’s order over “creative differences” that were not ultimately resolved. According to Variety, the episode in question was one shot in November and originally set to air in February entitled “Please, Baby, Please.” The story revolved around Dre doing his part to read his infant son Devante a bedtime story; yet, as the episode progresses it turns more into a discussion on social issues and a conversation between Dre and Junior on players kneeling. This is the sort of episode that probably would’ve generated a number of conversations on Twitter; however, not it is apparently not going to air at all.

In a statement, a rep for ABC had the following to say:

“One of the things that has always made Black-ish so special is how it deftly examines delicate social issues in a way that simultaneously entertains and educates … However, on this episode there were creative differences we were unable to resolve.”

Meanwhile, series creator Kenya Barris (who also directed this episode) said the following:

“Given our creative differences, neither ABC nor I were happy with the direction of the episode and mutually agreed not to air it … Black-ish is a show that has spoken to all different types of people and brought them closer as a community and I’m so proud of the series.”

Ultimately, one of the main issues at the heart of this episode was probably the limitations for an edgy, topical show on a family-based network that looks to all demographics of people. We do think that black-ish is an inclusive show and Barris’ point of view has earned him the right to be able to speak towards whatever he wants — we’ve never found him as one trying to offend so much as to start conversations. Yet, clearly there was someone within the ABC world who did not completely feel the same with this particular episode. This leads to us know being where we are with this series.

Sometimes, risks just don’t pan out. We just wish that there was a way to see this episode as Barris intended it so we could just the story for ourselves. This is not the first time in the past few years in which an episode was not aired due to the nature of its content; this happened previously with a Law & Order: SVU episode entitled “Unstoppable” that seemed to be inspired by Donald Trump.

What do you think about ABC making this particular decision for this black-ish episode? Share right now in the attached comments!

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