British fans of Canadian tv show Schitt’s Creek are noticing some strange censorship going on with their version of the show.
British tv network 4Music has been making some choice changes to the comedic drama, according to fans of the show. While the show, helmed by Dan Levy, has been applauded internationally for its LGBTQ representation and romance, someone over at 4Music wasn’t in agreement. As fans have pointed out, the channel edited out talk of gay sex while keeping talk of straight sex.
“4Music showed Schitt’s Creek with cut dialogue between David and Patrick,” Twitter user AshthenRuby pointed out. “‘…to sleep with me or whatever’ is just missing. But their kiss is there. And [episode’s] earlier talk of Moira sleeping with Roland remains. And Moira still says ‘fuck,’ so some curious censoring.”
Wondering about the decision to edit certain Schitt’s Creek scenes on @4Music ? Just noticed a scene between David & Patrick and another between David & Jake have been trimmed down. https://t.co/yST09KNI9E
— Wes (@Wes_outside) December 22, 2019
There weren’t lots of scenes edited, just seconds of important content removed. Surely they could’ve cut seconds from between scenes. Instead of cutting off dialogue mid-sentence in the middle of a scene. It makes no sense. @Channel4 @danjlevy @SchittsCreek pic.twitter.com/iSim3CTPzK
— Wes (@Wes_outside) December 23, 2019
.@4Music – you're taking your tagline way too far. #SchittsCreek fans, #LGBTQ communities and their allies just might find a way to filter your station off our view list until you explain your choices to edit queer #representation on your channel.
— rainbow_warrior (Dee) 🟪⬜️🟩 (they/them) (@entish2) December 23, 2019
Eventually, Dan Levy himself caught wind of the situation. He then tweeted out to 4Music asking for an explanation.
“Footage of the Jake/David kiss having been edited out. Aside from this censorship being highly disturbing and dangerous, it was a big laugh in the scene! This is very disheartening.”
Footage of the Jake/David kiss having been edited out. Aside from this censorship being highly disturbing and dangerous, it was a big laugh in the scene! This is very disheartening. @4Music https://t.co/7ExmZG9bIO
— dan levy (@danjlevy) December 22, 2019
Many fans then joined the conversation to point out how harmful this editing has been.
— 🌈 Tricia (@rainbowitup) December 22, 2019
— Ranking Schitt (@RankingSchitt) December 22, 2019
I won’t be watching Schitt’s Creek on any network that censors any part of it, period! pic.twitter.com/cBzN5HMyjY
— Alicata (@alicata) December 22, 2019
In response to these tweets, 4Music acknowledged the editing as “human error.”
This will be sorted for all future broadcasts of this episode.
— 4Music (@4Music) December 23, 2019
But fans aren’t buying it.
Patrick's facial expression is everything!
— shelly (@RealShellyBell) December 23, 2019
It seems that 4Music is willing to lose Schitt’s Creek fans over this censorship issue? I don’t buy the “human error” excuse either?