In a rare move, ABC has decided to pull an episode of its original comedy Black-ish, reports Deadline. The decision comes following “creative differences” between the network and Black-ish’s creator and executive producer Kenya Barris.
The series stars Anthony Anderson as Dre Johnson and Tracee Ellis Ross as his wife Rainbow and follows their family of six as they navigate the politics of everyday life in America for people of color. Blacki-ish has been celebrated by critics and casual fans alike for its blend of sharp social commentary and fresh humor. But the episode in question, titled “Please, Baby, Please”, was apparently a little too topical for ABC’s comfort.
“Please, Baby, Please” was supposed to air on February 27th. The episode centered on Dre reading his son a bedtime story, and when that fails to help him sleep, Dre launches into his own tale explaining America’s current political climate in a way that his son will understand.
ABC and Barris reportedly clashed over the political content of the episode. No details have been released concerning which specific aspects of “Please, Baby, Please” ABC and Barris disagreed over. According to the creator and producer, the decision to pull the episode from air was mutual.
Barris released a statement on Saturday to further explain the situation. “Given our creative differences, neither ABC nor I were happy with the direction of the episode and mutually agreed not to air it,” the producer said. “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.”
A spokesperson for ABC released statement on the network’s behalf. “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,” the statement read. “However, on this episode there were creative differences we were unable to resolve.”
Black-ish is currently in its fourth season. New episodes air Tuesdays at 9pm on ABC.