HBO’s Project Greenlight latest episode was titled “Hot Ghetto Mess,” but, HBO says that the title of the episode was a production mistake.
The last episode of Project Greenlight focused on producer Effie Brown trying to make sure the extras casting directors of the movie didn’t stereotype African Americans in the movie. There are no people of color among the guests at an upper-class wedding, and Brown, was concerned that actors of color shouldn’t then be cast as butlers or other servants, since that would be stereotypical and presumably racist. When she saw the only black extra in the movie as a driver in the movie, she insisted on replacing him with a white actor.
This sparked outrage on Twitter as many users questioned the title of the episode, “Hot Ghetto Mess”. However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the “racially-charged title was taken from comments Brown made in a scene that ultimately was cut from the episode. The network has since taken steps to fix the “production mistake” and rename the episode on all HBO platforms.”
Dear #ProjectGreenlight, Why was tonight’s show called “Hot Ghetto Mess”? Signed, Every Black Person Watching Tonight. @pgldigital
— W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) October 19, 2015
Magical Elves, the co-production team behind Project Greenlight, issued the following statement through HBO:
“Though it may not be obvious, the majority of Project Greenlight titles come from a line spoken inside the episode. An earlier cut of the one that aired Sunday included another chaotic day on set resulting in the remark ‘this is a hot ghetto mess.’ In a scramble of last minute edits and changes, however, that scene was removed. The episode was then renamed the ‘The Pivot’ but the change was not reflected on the delivered master. It was a production mistake for which we take full responsibility. HBO is taking steps to correct the title across its platforms.”
This is not the first time Project Greenlight was under the spotlight for being racist. Several weeks ago, Matt Damon was criticized for inferring that diversity was not needed behind the camera and that the only diversity that mattered was the diversity in front of the camera. “When we’re talking about diversity, you do it in the casting of the film, not in the casting of the show,” he said.
Matt Damon would later apologize, saying, “My comments were part of a much broader conversation about diversity in Hollywood and the fundamental nature of Project Greenlight which did not make the show. I am sorry that they offended some people, but, at the very least, I am happy that they started a conversation about diversity in Hollywood. That is an ongoing conversation that we all should be having.”
Related ‘Project Greenlight’ news:
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‘Project Greenlight’: Matt Damon is Still Upset Over That “Diversity” Conversation
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Matt Damon Shuts Up Black Filmmaker To Explain “Diversity”
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Why Everyone is Turning Their Back on Matt Damon
What do you think of HBO’s production mistake? Do you think Project Greenlight’s “Hot Ghetto Mess” was a racist remark? Share with us your thoughts in the comments below!
