Cable network A&E has reportedly canceled the eight-episode documentary series on the Ku Klux Klan even before its airing on January 10, 2017.
Entitled “Escaping the KKK: A Documentary Series Exposing Hate in America” was supposed to be an up-close and fearless look into the origin of discrimination and hate in the US but it seems that the producers have gone overboard by fabricating a lot of things.
There were even reports claiming that the producers of the documentary series paid their sources just to say things that were scripted for them to say even though those were clear distortions of facts.
In a recent disclosure by Ku Klux Klan leaders, they claimed that they were paid hundreds of dollars in cash each day of filming to compel them on camera to distort the facts of their lives to fit the documentary’s predetermined narrative.
Apparently, the producers want to generate tension between Klan members and relatives of theirs who wanted to get out of the Klan, reports Variety.
An investigation on the issue seemed to have netted almost 30 persons in and around the KKK who cooperated with fabricating the documentary and distorting the facts in at least six US states.
Not aware of the handiwork of the producers
It seems that A&E is not aware of the handiwork of Venice, the producers of the documentary series based in California.
So when word got out in the media and the public that the documentary was fabricated, A&E decided to cancel its airing. The cable network even went on to launch its own investigation on the issue, suspecting that there might be truth to the allegations as it also noted some payments being made by the producers to certain KKK individuals.
A&E had already made the decision to cancel the documentary series based on recently discovered payment practices of the producers in the field and the network is now conducting a full independent investigation into the production, cites a network spokesperson.
Accordingly, the leaders of the Ku Klux Klan were wooed with promises the documentary would capture the truth about life in the organization; encouraged not to file taxes on cash payments for agreeing to participate in the filming; presented with pre-scripted fictional story scenarios; instructed what to say on camera; asked to misrepresent their actual identities, motivations and relationships with others, and re-enacted camera shoots repeatedly until the production team was satisfied.
The production team even paid for material and equipment to construct and burn wooden crosses and Nazi swastikas, according to multiple sources including Richard Nichols, who is one of the featured subjects of the documentary series as the Grand Dragon of a KKK cell known as the Tennessee White Knights of the Invisible Empire. He also said he was encouraged by a producer to use the epithet nigger in interviews.
Production company TIJAT also issued a statement in response to the allegations, which suggested participants are being intimidated into tarnishing the show.
TIJAT is a prolific producer of unscripted TV series for cable networks such as TLC’s “I Am Jazz” and Animal Planet’s “Project Grizzly,” as well as theatrical documentaries and commercials. TIJAT is currently negotiating with A&E to get the rights back to “Escaping the KKK: A Documentary Series Exposing Hate in America” with the intent of shopping it to another network.
TIJAT principals Aengus James and Colin Miller said that they take such allegations very seriously and in partnership with A&E, they will be looking into them fully.
Big press hype that turned south
Some cynics believe that A&E would have gone to air the documentary series if not for the expose on its production.
It seems that the network was hoping to generate a quick supernova of a press hype to spur a big premiere rather than building buzz or word-of-mouth through long-tail promotion, details The Hollywood Reporter.
Reports now have it that the producers are already shopping for a new network or streaming service to air the documentary series. But A&E has taken the brunt of whatever outrage existed, and a new outlet would get a well-made docu-series with partnerships with the Anti-Defamation League and other anti-hate organizations.
A critic who has managed to watch four of the eight episodes of the documentary series says that there are enough mind games being played on both sides that the documentary series unfolds as a compelling psychodrama.