PBS Ombudsman Says Emails Show Ben Affleck Slave-Owning Whitewash Is ‘Open and Shut Case’
“There’s a certain danger, I think, in producing these kinds of documentary programs without any journalists involved,” Michael Getler tells TheWrap
Jordan Chariton | April 22, 2015 @ 10:01 AM
Last Updated: April 22, 2015 @ 10:21 AM
PBS ombudsman Michael Getler thinks emails suggesting “Finding Your Roots” host Henry Louis Gates obliged Ben Affleck‘s request to omit his slave-owning ancestors from the show makes the controversy an “open and shut case.”
While speaking to TheWrap on Wednesday about the network’s investigation into whether Gates decided against airing the parts of Affleck’s ancestry at the direct request of the actor, Getler cited emails between Gates and Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton. The exchange, which Getler already wrote about in a column, proves Gates “understood the serious journalistic and credibility issues at stake.”
“There’s a certain danger, I think, in producing these kinds of documentary programs without any journalists involved, or journalism involved,” Getler told TheWrap. “Professor Gates is a professor, a very respected academic, but not a journalist, so they may process this kind of advice [from Sony CEO Michael Lynton] differently than a journalist would. If you look at the emails, it’s an open and shut case.”
Whether Gates’ editorial decision was intentional or not, he at least knew honoring Affleck’s request would be a violation of PBS policy. The email exchange with Lynton shows Gates writing, “To do this would be a violation of PBS rules, actually, even for Batman.”
Michael Getler
On Tuesday, the public broadcasting company told TheWrap, “we are moving deliberately yet swiftly,” without providing a firm timetable for the investigation or what the potential punishment for Gates, a Harvard scholar, could be.
Soon after, Affleck broke his silence via Facebook, and apologized: “I didn’t want any television show about my family to include a guy who owned slaves. I was embarrassed. The very thought left a bad taste in my mouth.”
The actor went on to say the PBS show is not a news show, and since participants offer up a lot of their time and family information, the assumption is they won’t be embarrassed.
“It’s not just entertainment,” he said. “The whole point of it is to document people’s genealogy and families. The whole point of genealogy is to be dedicated to a truthful tracing … it’s not news in the sense that we think of it, but it is documentary and it’s not a reality show, it’s not something that should allow the kind of choice that was apparently made here.”
As to why Gates, when stuck in an editorial quagmire, would reach out to a Hollywood executive instead of PBS, Getler called it “an excellent question.” The ombudsman explained Gates should have told WNET and/or PBS as soon as the actor made the request to leave parts of his family history on the cutting floor, which hopefully would have set off “alarm bells.”
“That clearly was a bad decision,” Getler said. “Maybe he felt it was clear what kind of response he would get from PBS or WNET and sought other advice from a trusted friend.”
When asked about Gates’ email to Lynton, PBS referred TheWrap to its previous statement announcing its investigation into the matter.
Getler stopped short of taking a side on what Gates’ fate should be if the investigation finds clear evidence that Gates’ decision to leave out Affleck’s family’s slave-owning history was a direct quid pro quo. But he did stress the value of the public broadcaster.
“PBS is an important institution, and the integrity of PBS is what’s most important to PBS and to its viewers,” Getler said. “They have to believe PBS does the right thing and lives up to its own standards.”
Ben Affleck Is Batman: 16 Actors Who Played the Dark Knight Before Him (Photos)
Lewis G. Wilson:Â The first actor to play the Dark Knight in Columbia Pictures' 15-episode TV series, "Batman." As the United States had just entered the second World War, Batman's nemesis was a Japanese spy called Dr. Daka, whose plan was to take over the U.S. through a group of American traitors. Wilson died in 2000.
Robert Lowery:Â In 1949, Lowery took over for Wilson in the sequel series, "Batman and Robin." Fun fact: he grew up on Wayne Avenue in Kansas City pursuing Hollywood stardom. He died in 1971.
Adam West: For an entire generation, West is Batman, thanks to his turn on the iconic TV series that ran from 1966 to 1968 and spawned a film. West's halting delivery and campy earnestness are a far cry from today's Dark Knight, but his Bruce Wayne stands as one of the most beloved portrayals.
Olan Soule:Â The character actor, with hundreds of film credits to his name, was the main voice actor for the animated "Batman" from 1968 to 1984. He voiced the Dark Knight in several iterations of the character, from "Scooby Doo" to "Sesame Street" and several "Super Friends" cartoons.
Michael Keaton:Â When cast as Batman in Tim Burton's 1989 film, fans wrote to Warner Bros. in protest. But to their surprise, his darkly comic portrayal clicked, and Keaton stayed on for "Batman Returns" and was supposed to be in a third -- but dropped out when Burton did.
Kevin Conroy: Although they never saw his face, Conroy is regarded by fans as one of the finest voices Batman and Bruce Wayne ever had during his tenure as the DC superhero, which began in 1992 with "Batman: The Animated Series." He also lent his voice to Batman in a number of animated movies and video games.
Val Kilmer: Kilmer took over for Keaton in Joel Schumacher's "Batman Forever," a box office hit that received mixed reviews. He opted not to return for the next sequel, "Batman and Robin," because he believed his heroic character was marginalized in favor of the villains. Looking back on Arnold Schwarzenegger's Mr. Freeze, he may have been right.
George Clooney: The then TV-star stepped up to the plate when Kilmer backed out and has regretted it ever since. "Batman and Robin" was critically panned and didn't do nearly as well at the box office as its predecessor did. Also? Nipples.
Bruce Thomas: This actor first portrayed the Dark Knight in a series of OnStar commercials that aired between 2000 and 2002, then reprised the role for WB's short-lived TV series, "Birds of Prey."
Rino Romano: The voice actor, who has also voiced Spider-Man, provided Bruce Wayne and Batman's chatter in animated series, "The Batman," which ran from 2004 to 2008 on Cartoon Network.
Christian Bale: Christopher Nolan cast Bale as the vigilante in 2005's "Batman Begins," a welcome reboot to the franchise that lead to spectacular sequel, "The Dark Knight," and another massive hit, "The Dark Knight Rises."
William Baldwin: He was on the shortlist to play the billionaire-turned-superhero in "Batman Forever," but lost the role to Kilmer. Over a decade later, he voiced the character in 2010 animated movie "Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths."
Bruce Greenwood: The veteran actor, who most recently appeared on the big screen in "Star Trek Into Darkness," voiced Batman in 2010 animated feature "Batman: Under the Red Hood," as well as animated television series "Young Justice."
Ben McKenzie:Â The "Southland" and "The O.C." star voiced Batman for "Batman: Year One," a 2011 animated film based on the four-issue comics run of the same name from 1987. It was released on DVD, Blu-ray and digital download.
Peter Weller: The 66-year-old "RoboCop" actor voiced an aging Batman in "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns," a two-part animated movie released in December, and then January. Based on a 1986 comic book story arc by Frank Miller, the film followed Bruce Wayne returning to Gotham to after a 10-year hiatus.
Anthony Ruivivar: The "Southland" star is the latest actor to voice Batman in the newest animated series, "Beware the Batman," which began airing on Cartoon Network earlier this summer. Unlike earlier cartoon incarnations of the Dark Knight, "Beware the Batman" is entirely computer animated.
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Christian Bale, George Clooney, Val Kilmer and Michael Keaton aren't the only other leading men who've played the caped crusader