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Netflix rejects call to add fictional disclaimer to The Crown

Netflix rejects call to add fictional disclaimer to The Crown

"We have no plans - and see no need - to add a disclaimer.”
07 Dec, 2020

US streaming platform Netflix has rejected a call from Britain’s culture minister to add disclaimers at the start of episodes of its hit series The Crown to make clear that it is a work of fiction, several British media reported on Sunday.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden is among several prominent figures in Britain who have argued that the scripted series, in which actors play members of the royal family, risked giving viewers a wrong and damaging impression of the royals.

A government source said Dowden had written to the company saying the series was “a beautifully produced and acted drama but Netflix should be very clear it is a work of fiction”.

Netflix did not immediately respond to an email from Reuters requesting comment.

“We have always presented The Crown as a drama - and we have every confidence our members understand it’s a work of fiction that’s broadly based on historical events,” the company was quoted as saying in the UK media reports.

“As a result we have no plans - and see no need - to add a disclaimer.”

While many British viewers have enjoyed watching The Crown, the most recent season has attracted criticism from some commentators over scenes suggesting that the late Princess Diana was treated coldly, even cruelly, by senior royals.

Columnist Simon Jenkins of the Guardian newspaper accused the fourth season of having “upped the fabrication and the offence”.

Arguing that modern history was “too close to what should be sacred ground - bearing witness to passing events”, he wrote that artistic licence could not justify fabrications that showed living or recently dead people in the worst possible light.

Comments

MG Dec 07, 2020 11:01am
Netflix is becoming rogue
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FAZ Dec 07, 2020 12:15pm
Freedom of expression?
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salman Dec 07, 2020 02:34pm
UK should banned netflix now
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Syed Zaraq Khan Dec 07, 2020 02:43pm
I heard they were all up for Freedom of Expression?
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Dec 07, 2020 03:07pm
An attempt in futility by the Britain's culture minister who has miserably failed to understand the socio-cultural norms, values, traditions, precedents, history and practices of the United States of America.
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Parvez Dec 07, 2020 03:57pm
As the TV series so pointedly says and shows is that the House of Windsor and especially the Queen has from day one learnt the difficult lesson of " doing nothing " despite having the power to do so....... so my feeling is that they will do nothing and the issue will die.
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Teddy Dec 08, 2020 08:48am
Good for nothing royal family
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