The same-sex kiss on “How to Get Away With Murder” was censored — here’s what fans are saying
Last week, a new episode of How to Get Away With Murder aired and, as usual, it was amazing. For most audiences, the show featured its customary dose of suspense, mystery, intrigue… and a little gay love.
But for audiences in the Philippines and the Middle East, who just saw the episode this week, the show appeared a little bit different.
According to tweets posted by HTGAWM‘s two gay male icons — Jack Falahee and Conrad Ricamora, who play boyfriends Colin and Oliver on the show — both the Sony Channel in the Philippines and OSN, a network servicing the Middle East and Northern Africa, censored a gay kiss scene.
Seriously?! @osn & @SonyChannelPH cut #coliver kiss ep.302 – get into 2016. We need=representation #loveislove #equality @HowToGetAwayABC pic.twitter.com/pXG9WB1Y1u
— conrad ricamora (@conradricamora) October 2, 2016
https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/782706801686958080
Here’s the ~questionable~ scene, in case you need a recap.
"I love you, Ollie." – #Coliver in #HTGAWM 3×02 💔😢 pic.twitter.com/GqQB1O6TmO
— Coliver Fanpage (@COLIVER_htgawm) September 30, 2016
The censorship by Sony Channel Philippines was particularly frustrating for the pair, since Ricamora is an out Asian American actor.
We got you. #equality #loveislove #HTGAWM pic.twitter.com/qlR7lIxd4N
— conrad ricamora (@conradricamora) October 2, 2016
Can we get a collective UGH.
Fans weren’t impressed by the decision either, tweeting furiously at Sony Channel and OSN. false false
@conradricamora @osn @SonyChannelPH @HowToGetAwayABC @RestingPlatypus pic.twitter.com/MATOMvrBTA
— ☁️🌷✨ (@lovemfsn) October 3, 2016
.@SonyChannelPH Not OK that you aired #HTGAWM 3×02 & cut #Coliver kiss. @petenowalk @RestingPlatypus @conradricamora https://t.co/tFIkBaUjxs
— HTGAWM (@fyeahtgawm) October 2, 2016
Some good has come out of all of this hurt, though. After a tweet storm by fans and the show’s stars, the Sony Channel has responded — and it’s going to re-air the episode in full on Friday.
We're showing the #Coliver scene in a special encore of #HTGAWM S2E2 this Friday, just before the new episode airs! @RestingPlatypus pic.twitter.com/ZCVCTJ2mFe
— Sony Television PH (@SonyChannelPH) October 4, 2016
We’ll take a big, fat YAY for that!
This definitely sends a message to networks and viewers alike: Viewers, you have power. And networks, if you mess up — we’ll come for you, so watch out.
