Amazon has pulled the plug on its controversial series My Lady Jane just weeks after its premiere, following a wave of backlash. The show, which reimagines 16th-century England in a fantasy setting, sparked heated debate due to its portrayal of King Edward VI as a black, gay, and disabled character. The decision to cancel the show comes amidst growing criticism from both viewers and commentators, who argue that the series pushed diversity and inclusion to an extreme, distorting historical figures beyond recognition.
My Lady Jane, an adaptation of the 2016 young adult novel by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, and Jodi Meadows, was intended as a whimsical alternative history. It takes considerable creative liberties, incorporating shapeshifting characters known as Ethians and fantastical plotlines that deviate significantly from historical events. However, the depiction of King Edward VI, a key figure in the series, as a black, gay, and disabled man was met with intense scrutiny.
the amazon show that made the king of england black gay and disabled is now cancelled after one season. who could have seen this coming? pic.twitter.com/QxbOWOGLYD
— mary morgan (@maryarchived) August 21, 2024
Critics have accused Amazon of prioritizing a progressive agenda over historical accuracy and coherence, arguing that the portrayal was a blatant attempt to pander to modern sensibilities at the expense of the story's believability.
Some even compared the show to earlier media that faced similar accusations of distorting historical narratives for the sake of diversity, suggesting that Amazon's move was more about ticking diversity boxes than creating a compelling narrative.
The new Amazon show features a reimagined portrayal of the King of England as a Black, gay, and disabled man.
Trying to rewrite history. Why? pic.twitter.com/xJVp8Xjt9X
— Jason (@DonJasonOnX) August 23, 2024
The show's abrupt cancellation highlights the precarious balance entertainment companies must strike between innovation and audience expectations. While alternative history and fantasy genres often take liberties with real-life events and figures, the specific changes made in My Lady Jane have been seen by many as a step too far.
Amazon, which initially defended the show's creative direction, reportedly decided to cancel the series after it became clear that it was not resonating with a broad enough audience.
The reaction from viewers has been mixed. While some praised the show for its boldness and inclusivity, others felt that it strayed too far from any semblance of historical reality. This controversy is the latest example of the ongoing debate over representation in media, particularly in historical and fantasy settings where the balance between creative license and respect for the source material is often contentious.
In the end, Amazon's decision to cut the series short may reflect broader industry trends where content that generates more controversy than praise is quickly shelved. The cancellation serves as a reminder of the risks involved when blending fantasy with historically grounded characters, especially in a climate where viewers are increasingly vocal about what they consider acceptable in terms of creative interpretation.
A 17 year old white girl wears a cheongsam inspired dress to her prom and there is a nationwide outcry and outrage over her “cultural appropriation” of Chinese culture. Never mind that half the people in China are wearing cotton tee-shirts and Levi style jeans (both created in/by the USA). Meanwhile, we are supposed to blithely accept tv series which depict a Regency era English lord as a black man, another which depicts an actual 20th C. British king as a gay, disabled black man, a 17th C. Samurai as a black dude, and a movie featuring a Danish mermaid as a black girl and a medieval, Germanic princess (with a “whiter than snow” complexion) portrayed by a Mexican chick. Yeah… Nothin’ sketchy here.