MultiChoice has restored several of Leon Schuster’s older films to its platforms, DStv and Showmax, after previously banning them for alleged racial insensitivity.
The TV broadcaster initially pulled the titles back in June 2020, during the global Black Lives Matter movement sparked by the death of George Floyd.
At the time, broadcasters worldwide reassessed content that could be deemed offensive.
MultiChoice reinstates banned movies
Central to the decision was Schuster’s use of makeup and disguises in his comedies, where he portrayed characters of different races, including black and Indian people. This practice, often associated with blackface, was flagged as problematic.
To address this, in 2020, Showmax pulled six Schuster movies, including
- Sweet n Short
- Oh Schucks, It’s Schuster
- You Must Be Joking
- You Must Be Joking Too
- Schucks… Pay Back The Money!
- Frank & Fearless
MultiChoice also banned Mr Bones, Mr Bones 2: Back from the Past, and Mama Jack. After review, only Frank & Fearless, Schuster’s 2018 comedy, was temporarily restored.
At the time, Showmax emphasised that while the movies were “products of their time” and created with “positive intent,” it had to strike a balance between sensitivity and its role as a unifying platform.
With the ban now lifted, Leon Schuster’s earlier works will once again be available for streaming. MultiChoice has not elaborated on what prompted the policy change.
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