Welcome to Outrage Watch, HitFix's semi-regular rundown of entertainment-related kerfuffles. Not feeling anxious enough already? Get your fix of righteous indignation below, and stay posted for outrage updates throughout the week.
If you haven't seen Todd Haynes' excellent, Oscar-nominated Carol yet, you should know: there is a sex scene between Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. A tasteful, passionate, low-lit sex scene between two women in love. ABC has a problem with this! Or, more accurately: ABC has a problem with a snippet of said scene playing in the Weinstein Co.'s new TV spot for the acclaimed drama.
Indeed, according to a new item in Page Six, the home of steamy fare like Scandal and How to Get Away With Murder is allegedly refusing to play the spot on their network until the ad “provides more coverage on” both actresses (a request the Weinstein Co. is reportedly complying with). Cue the outraged masses on social media — including Shameless star Emmy Rossum, who rightly notes that there's no actual nudity-nudity visible in the spot in question (at least not that I can see?):
ABC wont air the “Carol” trailer bc they want “more coverage” on the ladies? Coverage of what? You see a back and kissing. This is 2016.
– Emmy Rossum (@emmyrossum) January 29, 2016
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You can watch the spot here, immediately followed by even more righteous social media indignation:
ABC won't air ad for “Carol” because it features two women in bed, but they're fine airing ED ads about erections all day? @lorijulia
– Donny Love (@myTalkDonnyLove) January 29, 2016
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Homophobes at ABC won't air Carol ad because of lesbian love scene…. https://t.co/fjGPvJtppv
– Sunshineliron (@Sunshineliron) January 29, 2016
ABC refuses to air “Carol” television spot with a BS excuse https://t.co/6RhfO0dVmu pic.twitter.com/lJ3F0uedWP
– NewNowNext (@NewNowNext) January 29, 2016
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so much for being #LGBT inclusive .@ABCNetwork WTF??? #CarolMovie https://t.co/CaYDNwEsd5
– maraleia (@maraleia) January 29, 2016
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ABC (home of “The Bachelor”) refuses to air Carol ad featuring lesbian bare shoulders. https://t.co/LQ46hsB9Ly pic.twitter.com/zxk5VEJD6O
– Q. Allan Brocka (@allanbrocka) January 29, 2016
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Really @ABCNetwork? Naked shoulders & 2 women kissing is taboo, but guns, car chases & horror gore is A-Ok????? https://t.co/EFAWg811sQ #Carol
– Jacquie G (@jezziebezzie) January 29, 2016