Netflix cancels TV series over pressure from Turkey to remove gay character

BY JUSTIN HARP

 

ANADOLU AGENCY / GETTY IMAGES

 

Netflix has cancelled plans to film series If Only in Turkey following objection from the government over a gay character in the series.

 

The streamer has opted to completely pull out of producing the series from writer Ece Yorenc just before it was due to begin filming with Turkish film star Özge Özpirinçci, according to The Financial Times.

 

Yorenc told Turkish news outlet Altyazi Fasikul that Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government wouldn't grant Netflix a filming permit for If Only unless the writer agreed to cut out a gay character in the series.

 

Netflix executives reportedly declined to bow to censorship orders, choosing instead to shut down the series entirely — a decision that has also proved controversial, since there are other locations where the series conceivably could have been produced with the gay character included.

 

Full Story: https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a33382315/netflix-cancels-turkish-series-gay-character/

So, that was unexpected. Why do they want to hide reality? It´s widely known that Turkey has a big gay community. Does the TV-serie look down on that?

Edited July 22, 20205 yr by Matzzon

Pathetic! Shame on Netflix! Also, just one more proof that Erdogan needs to go! He’s a dinosaur who lives in the Stone Age! 
 

 

But film companies are ok with China telling them to remove bits that offend them (big bucks) .

Sounds a reasonable reaction by NetFlix; don't produce the show in Turkey. Maybe produce the show in some other country or not at all, the result is money not spent in Turkey. I personally can't think of any film that would want me to visit/tour Turkey, I seen enough of Turkey in Lawrence of Arabia.

56 minutes ago, IAMHERE said:

Sounds a reasonable reaction by NetFlix; don't produce the show in Turkey. Maybe produce the show in some other country or not at all, the result is money not spent in Turkey. I personally can't think of any film that would want me to visit/tour Turkey, I seen enough of Turkey in Lawrence of Arabia.

Midnight Express was enough for me not to visit.

Another one Hypocrite Dictator.

Edited July 23, 20205 yr by Tarteso

freedom of speech or just being human ...

 

religion & culture is pain in the ...

There may be Gays in Turkey, but the promotion of such is proscribed. Ooh, just like alcohol in Thailand.

 

Should film it in Greece, really priss off the Turks. Especially in the area of Greece that Turkey invaded. Or maybe in Northern Cyprus...or just Cyprus.

2 hours ago, DoctorG said:

Midnight Express was enough for me not to visit.

Oh but you should still visit. 

Their whirling dervishes are to die for. 

Don't get me started about the Turkish baths. What happens in Constantinople stays in Constantinople. 

Edited July 23, 20205 yr by Jingthing

NetFlix, Google, Nike the NBA just pick one. They have no problem with forced labor camps, persecution of gays. Pick a woke subject, they have no problem jumping on the band wagon and telling the western world how woke they are. But let their masters in China or any other place call them out and they bend over and take it .

On forgot to add the big one, APPLE.

5 hours ago, IAMHERE said:

Sounds a reasonable reaction by NetFlix; don't produce the show in Turkey. Maybe produce the show in some other country or not at all, the result is money not spent in Turkey. I personally can't think of any film that would want me to visit/tour Turkey, I seen enough of Turkey in Lawrence of Arabia.

Chicken!

Good on Netflix for not kowtowing to censorship

 

if Turkey, or certain parts of the Muslim world for that matter,

can't be tolerant of different orientations, they are free to remain in the Stone Age.

 

Edited July 23, 20205 yr by varun