"30 Rock" Pulls Blackface Episodes From Syndication Per Tina Fey's Request

Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, creators of the popular 2000s sitcom 30 Rock, have requested the removal of four episodes of the show that feature characters in blackface. They are episodes “Believe In The Stars” (season 3, episode 2), “Christmas Attack Zone” (season 5, episode 10), “Live from Studio 6H” (season 6, episode 19) and the East Coast version of “The Live Show” (season 5, episode 4).

Fey wrote in a letter that was shared with news publications:

As we strive to do the work and do better in regards to race in America, we believe that these episodes featuring actors in race-changing makeup are best taken out of circulation. I understand now that ‘intent’ is not a free pass for white people to use these images. I apologize for pain they have caused. Going forward, no comedy-loving kid needs to stumble on these tropes and be stung by their ugliness. I thank NBCUniversal for honoring this request."

The news caused fans to reconsider 30 Rock and the work of Fey in general. Some noted that Fey's work had a history of using racial stereotypes and humor in offensive ways. In particular, fans brought up the way Fey has portrayed Asian women in Mean Girls, 30 Rock_, and "_Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt":/memes/subcultures/unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt.

Others had a more charitable look at Fey's comedy, arguing the use of racial humor was not being taken in the spirit intended.

Still, the majority of reactions found people reveling in the cancelation of Tina Fey. The news came as many other networks and streaming services are reevaluating their content. Recent, headline-grabbing cuts include HBO's decision to remove Gone With The Wind and reinstall it with an introduction from film scholar Jacqueline Stewart about its racism and Netflix's decision to pull a sketch from David Cross and Bob Odendirk's show W/Bob & David that featured blackface.