HBO controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
HBO defends J.K. Rowling's participation in the Harry Potter series
Company response
HBO issued a statement saying that J.K. Rowling's participation as the original author would benefit the series. HBO programming chief Casey Bloys reiterated that the company was comfortable with her involvement. The statement addressed her role in the Harry Potter series and presented her participation as advantageous to the production, with Bloys restating the company's position that it was at ease with her involvement.
HBO issued a statement saying that J.K. Rowling’s participation as the original author would benefit the series, and HBO programming chief Casey Bloys reiterated that the company was comfortable with her involvement.
Source excerpt
近日HBO發佈聲明稱羅琳作為原作者，其加入對本劇是有益的。Bloys此次重申了此觀點，稱“我們對羅琳的參與感到完全安心自在”
2021
HBO responds to colorism allegations involving Lovecraft Country
Company response
After an extra alleged that she was made to wear darker makeup for Lovecraft Country, HBO issued a statement saying the situation should not have happened and that it was taking steps to prevent a recurrence.
Stated objective. To ensure the situation does not happen again.
Company response
Remediation — HBO
This should not have happened, and we are taking steps to ensure this doesn’t occur again in the future.
Source excerpt
This should not have happened, and we are taking steps to ensure this doesn’t occur again in the future.
According to Yahoo! News, the controversy stems from a TikTok video posted by Kelli Amirah, who worked as an extra on the set of the hit sci-fi series. In the video, Amirah alleged that she was made to wear darker makeup for the series which opened the door for the debate about colorism.
On Monday, March 8, as the details of the video continued to make headlines, HBO acknowledged the situation and noted its commitment to ensuring it never happens again.
2020
HBO Tiger Woods documentary faces diversity backlash
Public backlash
In July 2020, the announcement of an HBO documentary series about Tiger Woods drew criticism within the documentary community. According to the source report, the backlash centered on a lack of above-the-line diversity on the project. The controversy concerned the composition of the production's core creative team rather than the subject of the documentary itself. The report did not specify further details about the project's personnel or any response from HBO.
Source excerpt
The announcement this week that golfing icon Tiger Woods would be the subject of a two-part HBO documentary series has provoked a backlash in the documentary community due to a lack of above-the-line diversity on the project.