Posted in: Movies, TV | Tagged: a&e, escaping the kkk, generation kkk, kkk

Merry Trumpmas: Here's A Trailer For A&E's Not-A-Reality-Series Documentary About The KKK

A&E is looking to do some damage control after their announcement of a new reality TV series documenting the lives of high-ranking members of the Ku Klux Klan met with some backlash for potentially giving an inadvertent platform for the views of the KKK, possibly presenting their leaders as sympathetic characters, and seeking to profit through ratings on the country's current political climate by irresponsibly exploiting the nation's oldest and most prestigious white supremacist group. The show was titled Generation KKK.

"I wouldn't go so far as to say we're an advocacy brand," said A&E General Manager Rob Sharenow in a statement when the project was first announced. "But I do think there's a message of hope in all these shows and a promise of redemption." Executive producer Aengus James said of the show that "the struggles we were most drawn to were the struggles with the internal families," while former racist and current anti-hate activist Arno Michaelis, who tries to convince people to leave the KKK, pointed out that "people involved in hate groups do so because they're suffering."

This was poor brand messaging, in retrospect, so A&E is making some panicked changes quickly. First, the network has partnered with civil rights group Color of Change to produce new segments with civil rights leaders to "provide context" for the show, according to a report from Variety. The network has also changed the sensational title of the show from Generation KKK to the somehow even more sensational title Escaping the KKK: A Documentary Series Exposing Hate In America. Finally, Sharenow has redoubled efforts to convince people that the show from the network that brought you classics such as Duck Dynasty, The Wahlburgers, Hoarders, Dog The Bounty Hunter, Storage Wars, Gene Simmons' Family Jewels, and Intervention, would in fact be a serious, credible documentary.

This is not a reality show starring the KKK. This is a documentary series and that's been the approach from the beginning. I think there's been a horrible misperception about what it is and what we set out to do. This is a pure documentary that looks at a previously hidden part of the world.

A&E has also released an almost eight-minute first look at the series, which they are no doubt hoping clearly proves it is a serious documentary and not a reality TV show, most notably because it has ominous music instead of pop hits playing in the background. Have a look below:

https://youtu.be/mweOMdweLzA

Escaping the KKK: A Documentary Series Exposing Hate In America #ExposeHate is set to debut on January 10.

Enjoyed this? Please share on social media!

Stay up-to-date and support the site by following Bleeding Cool on Google News today!