Top 10 Biggest HBO Scandals
#10: Film Release Switch-up
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The COVID-19 pandemic brought many disruptions to everyday life, and the film industry was forced to re-adjust their usual model. Countless movie theaters were forced to close, and many films had to push back their initial release dates. In 2021, WarnerMedia announced plans to co-release a slate of movies in theaters and to stream on HBO Max simultaneously. They called it “Project Popcorn.” While many felt this was reasonable considering the circumstances, numerous filmmakers were furious about the change – especially since they allegedly weren’t notified beforehand. Some saw it as a means to increase the streamer’s subscriptions as opposed to an initiative designed to help the films themselves succeed. “Project Popcorn” has since ended.
#9: Bill Maher's Witchcraft Clip
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The HBO show “Real Time with Bill Maher” may have seriously influenced an election! In 2010, Bill Maher played a clip from his former series “Politically Incorrect,” in which Christine O’Donnell talks about her experience “dabbling into witchcraft.” Since she was a Senatorial candidate, this contributed to a massive spike in conversations around her, and forced her to comment on the validity of the claim. Her campaign released an ad of her plainly stating that she was not a witch– which was widely mocked. Kristen Wiig of “Saturday Night Live” even performed an impression. O’Donnell lost the election, and admitted the advertisement was a bad move. Maher, for his part, apologized to her.
#8: The "Game of Thrones" Blood Drive
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One of the most popular HBO series ever, “Game of Thrones” had a massive fanbase. But with great power comes great responsibility. Prior to the release of its final season, the series launched a “Bleed for the Throne” campaign in which fans would donate blood to the American Red Cross and potentially win a prize. There was one major problem though: gay and bisexual men were banned from participating. The FDA initially put this restriction into place as a response to the AIDS crisis of the 1980s. While certain changes have since been to diminish the hurdles LGBTQ+ people face, the policy is widely considered outdated. Those who couldn’t donate blood could still enter the sweepstakes, but many felt that the campaign’s promotional materials were misleading.
#7: T.J. Miller
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This actor and comedian has had controversy following him for most of his career. Miller was one of the stars of HBO’s comedy series “Silicon Valley,” but was written off at the end of season four. The cast and crew of the show reportedly had difficulty working with the star, as he would apparently show up to shoots inebriated – if at all. Miller denied this, blaming his excessive work schedule. Shortly after his exit, sexual assault accusations against him came to light– which he also denied. HBO’s comment on this wasn’t very substantial, simply stating that the report did not surface during his time working for the network.
#6: “Leaving Neverland”
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HBO’s documentary outlining the accusations against late pop star Michael Jackson was contentious, to say the least. Two alleged victims of his abuse – Wade Robson and James Safechuck – came forward and shared stories of mistreatment they claimed to have suffered at the singer’s hands. The Jackson family responded to the film, calling it a complete fabrication. While it’s impossible to truly know the full story, the painful experiences the men describe in excruciating detail are hard to hear. This wasn’t the first time Jackson was accused of mistreatment, notably having been found not guilty of assaulting Gavin Arvizo in 2005. Either way, his legacy has been under serious scrutiny since “Leaving Neverland”’s release.
#5: The Explicit Nature of “Euphoria”
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The hit series “Euphoria” follows a group of teens including protagonist Rue, who grapples with substance use disorder. The show has been critically acclaimed, and has many passionate fans. But the anti-drug program D.A.R.E has notably advocated against the series, accusing it of “glorify[ing]” substance use (among other things) for a relatively young audience. Still, there’s a lot of disagreement surrounding the topic. Many actually appreciate the rawness and honesty of “Euphoria,” saying it brings comfort to those who may be experiencing similar hardships. There’s no denying there are many explicit scenes and serious situations featured in the teen drama series. Whether that’s a good or bad thing, however, remains up for debate.
#4: Horse Fatalities
The set of HBO’s “Luck” had some major safety issues. The series was all about professional horse racing, and starred actor Dustin Hoffman. It had garnered some good reviews and acclaim, but production was halted after three horses unfortunately died on set. Two of them were injured during filming of different race scenes in the first season, resulting in them being euthanized. After a third horse met a similar fate, PETA and the American Humane Association called for action. Not wanting to cause any more harm, the show was brought to an end in 2012.
#3: The Merger
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Many television fans were disappointed to find that some of their favorite shows and movies were either canceled or removed from HBO Max as if they had never existed. This is largely due to WarnerMedia (which includes HBO and HBO Max) merging with Discovery. The company, dubbed Warner Bros. Discovery, was faced with litigation from shareholders, who saw the value of their stocks sink drastically. They are also being accused of overestimating HBO Max’s active subscriber base. While it’s too soon to see what good will come of this merger in the long-term, we can only hope some of HBO’s beloved content will remain.
#2: Tai the Elephant
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HBO’s issues with their treatment of animals didn’t end with “Luck.” In 2018, an elephant named Tai appeared in “Westworld” – much to the dismay of PETA. Tai came from an organization called Have Trunk Will Travel, which has been accused of harming the elephants employed for film and television projects. HBO defended their use of the animal, claiming to have had safety representatives nearby to check in on her (and any other creatures). Tai sadly passed away a few years after her appearance in the show. PETA released an obituary in her honor, outlining the pains of being forced to work in Hollywood as an animal.
#1: "Confederate"
In 2017, it was announced that HBO had greenlit a new series from white male television producers David Benioff and D. B. Weiss. If those names sound familiar, it’s because they’re the creators of “Game of Thrones.” It was going to center on what would have happened if the South had successfully formed its own country where slavery remained following the Civil War. The concept faced serious backlash from activists and the general public alike, who were outraged by the insensitive and painful subject matter. And the fact that the cast of “Game of Thrones” wasn’t exactly diverse didn’t put peoples’ minds at ease in terms of respectful representation. The project eventually died– while Benioff and Weiss moved onto bigger and better things.
