Colin Kaepernick’s Spike Lee docuseries was shelved by ESPN with solely “creative differences” cited, fueling hypothesis of NFL strain.

Colin Kaepernick was set to have a docuseries chronicling his lengthy struggle in opposition to police brutality, however ESPN has reportedly shelved the challenge. The sequence, produced by Spike Lee, was anticipated to shine a highlight on Kaepernick’s activism and his battles each on and off the sphere. Instead, it’s been scrapped with little rationalization. All Spike Lee would say is that the challenge isn’t popping out because of “creative differences.”

That’s a skinny assertion for one thing this important. No particulars, no context, simply these two phrases. Which makes me marvel—was this actually a matter of clashing artistic visions, or one thing larger?

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 speculation floating round is that ESPN might need deliberately shelved this. Maybe they purchased the challenge 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 making an attempt to restore its picture, this sequence would have been a headache. Imagine if a Spike Lee-directed challenge laid naked the politics and strain that primarily pushed Kaepernick out of soccer. That can be an unpleasant 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. Meanwhile, Kaepernick’s camp has stated the alternative, insisting he was shut out of the league for taking a knee. If this docuseries linked too many dots, it might have blown that debate large open in methods the NFL doesn’t need.

So once I hear “creative differences,” I can’t assist however roll my eyes. This wasn’t about artwork route or modifying decisions. This wasn’t a Marvel film or a Tim Burton flick. This was about enterprise, politics, and harm management, for my part. Whether ESPN caved to strain from the NFL or just determined the challenge was unhealthy for enterprise, I doubt it was ever really about “creativity.”

At the very least, I hope Spike and Kaepernick received absolutely paid for his or her work. Because even when the world by no means sees this sequence, the power, time, and story behind it need to imply one thing.

Related