Colin Kaepernick’s Spike Lee docuseries was shelved by ESPN with solely “artistic variations” cited, fueling hypothesis of NFL stress.
Colin Kaepernick was set to have a docuseries chronicling his lengthy combat towards police brutality, however ESPN has reportedly shelved the venture. The collection, produced by Spike Lee, was anticipated to shine a highlight on Kaepernick’s activism and his battles each on and off the sector. As a substitute, it’s been scrapped with little rationalization. All Spike Lee would say is that the venture isn’t popping out as a result of “artistic variations.”
That’s a skinny assertion for one thing this vital. No particulars, no context, simply these two phrases. Which makes me marvel—was this actually a matter of clashing artistic visions, or one thing greater?
Right here’s the place hypothesis creeps in. Kaepernick has at all times been a lightning rod, and we’re nonetheless in a Trump-era local weather the place free speech and uncomfortable truths are sometimes stifled. So the idea floating round is that ESPN may need deliberately shelved this. Possibly they purchased the venture with good intentions at first however later determined it was too messy to launch.
Hollywood performs this sport on a regular basis. Studios will spend thousands and thousands to purchase a movie, solely to lock it away so nobody else can contact it. It’s not nearly creativity. It’s about management. And with the NFL actively attempting to restore its picture, this collection would have been a headache. Think about if a Spike Lee-directed venture laid naked the politics and stress that basically pushed Kaepernick out of soccer. That will be an unsightly stain the league couldn’t scrub off.
Jay-Z and Roc Nation have been working additional time to push the narrative that actual change has occurred because the Kaepernick state of affairs. In the meantime, Kaepernick’s camp has mentioned the other, insisting he was shut out of the league for taking a knee. If this docuseries linked too many dots, it may have blown that debate extensive open in methods the NFL doesn’t need.
So once I hear “artistic variations,” I can’t assist however roll my eyes. This wasn’t about artwork course or modifying decisions. This wasn’t a Marvel film or a Tim Burton flick. This was about enterprise, politics, and injury management, for my part. Whether or not ESPN caved to stress from the NFL or just determined the venture was unhealthy for enterprise, I doubt it was ever really about “creativity.”
On the very least, I hope Spike and Kaepernick obtained absolutely paid for his or her work. As a result of even when the world by no means sees this collection, the vitality, time, and story behind it need to imply one thing.
