Out of respect for the protests across the country in the wake of George Floyd’s death and the upcoming Juneteenth holiday, Hulu has decided to change the release dates for two of its upcoming shows. Love, Victor will be moved from its original June 19th release date to June 17th, and Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi will move to June 18th, as Screen Rant reported.
Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of African Americans from slavery in Texas on June 19th, 1865, 155 years ago. Texas was the last Confederate state to free its slaves, despite the Emancipation Proclamation originally being issued on January 1st, 1863. The holiday has typically been overshadowed in mainstream American media. The Black Lives Matter movement and the protests against police brutality following George Floyd’s death has ignited a cross-country excitement and anticipation for the holiday, which is to be celebrated only 9 days after publishing.
Hulu moved up these dates as an effort to keep up the momentum and avoid turning attention away from the holiday. Hulu published this statement on their Twitter account:
Love, Victor is a TV show spin-off of the queer romantic comedy Love, Simon. The show takes place at the same school and town as the film’s protagonist, Simon, lived, but focuses on a new character, Victor (Michael Cimino, Anabelle Comes Home). The show follows Victor as he grapples with his sexuality and unaccepting parents. Hulu revealed the original release date and trailer two weeks ago.
Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi is a documentary series that focuses on the origins and influences of American cuisine. The host, Padma Lakshmi (Top Chef), interviews immigrant families across the nation and researches their style of cooking.