US version of The Office edited to remove blackface scene

An episode of the US version of The Office has been edited to remove a depiction of a character in blackface.

The show’s creator, Greg Daniels, made the change to the Christmas episode from the ninth series, entitled Dwight Christmas.

The episode from 2012 features a brief scene of a character in blackface as part of Dwight’s (Rainn Wilson) efforts to get the Dunder Mifflin staff to celebrate a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch Christmas.

It comes after a string of shows have removed scenes or whole episodes featuring the use of blackface, including 30 Rock and Scrubs, while Little Britain was dropped from Netflix, BBC iPlayer and BritBox.

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Daniels said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter: “The Office is about a group of people trying to work together with mutual respect, despite the inappropriate actions of their boss and assistant manager.

“The show employed satire to expose unacceptable behaviour and deliver a message of inclusion.

“Today we cut a shot of an actor wearing blackface that was used to criticise a specific racist European practice.

“Blackface is unacceptable and making the point so graphically is hurtful and wrong. I am sorry for the pain that caused.”