Dan Levy criticizes Comedy Central India for cutting 'Schitt's Creek' kiss

Schitt’s Creek may have made history last month by becoming first show to sweep all four acting categories at the Emmys, but the comedy is still being censored in parts of the world because of its content. The Canadian comedy has made an impact with audiences around the world, but in some markets, not every viewer is getting to see the show as it was intended. Now show creator, writer and star Dan Levy is pushing back against censorship and the refusal to show a kiss between two male characters.On October 6, Levy tweeted his outrage and disappointment after finding an edited clip of Schitt’s Creek that is streaming on Comedy Central India. Taken from Season 5, the episode “Housewarming” features Noah Reid’s Patrick throwing a high school themed housewarming party after renting a new apartment. During a game of spin the bottle, Annie Murphy’s Alexis and Emily Hampshire’s Stevie share a kiss. Comedy Central India left this same-sex kiss in the clip unedited, but when it came time for Levy to kiss Dustin Milligan’s Ted, the scene was removed.“You showed the kiss between two women, you showed the kiss between a woman and a man, then removed the kiss between two men? This is a show about the power of inclusivity,” tweeted Levy, who shared the edited clip. “The censorship of gay intimacy is making a harmful statement against that message. #loveislove”

You showed the kiss between two women, you showed the kiss between a woman and a man, then removed the kiss between two men? This is a show about the power of inclusivity. The censorship of gay intimacy is making a harmful statement against that message. #loveislove https://t.co/3ouNbuetq1

— dan levy (@danjlevy) October 6, 2020

Levy tweeted a second time after some followers were confused about where the edited clip was airing, clarifying that the censored version was part of Comedy Central India, not Comedy Central USA, which Levy said has “…been lovely and respectful.”

I thought I made this pretty clear but for those who are confused, this is about a channel in India. @ComedyCentral in America is not censoring the show. They have been lovely and respectful. Thank you for your time. ✌??

— dan levy (@danjlevy) October 6, 2020

Several fans of Schitt’s Creek have voiced their support of Levy and the show’s depiction of same-sex love.

Thank you for making a show that truly meant the world to so many. This kind of censorship is not okay

— The Mary Sue (@TheMarySue) October 6, 2020

WAIT WAIT WAIT A MINUTE ! please let it be noted the David / Patrick Dynamic caused my husbands uncomfortable feelings towards GAY MEN to cease to exist ! It became real is how he explained it .

— Shawana (@shawanacarth) October 6, 2020

Thank you for saying something about this! Using your platform to call out this kind of bigotry means a lot to us https://t.co/0UUa1rk5lL

— R ??? (@davidrosesskirt) October 6, 2020

I’m truly sorry, obvi that’s never OK, & reflects how isolated a lot of ppl must feel.However, I’m really really glad they’re showing it, bc @SchittsCreek displays & exemplifies #loveislove in every scene. I’d imagine you’ve touched a lot of ppl in a country that really needs it pic.twitter.com/fHP5zmaWnx

— Natasha Dhawan, MD (@NatashaDhawanMD) October 7, 2020

This isn’t the first time audiences outside of Canada and the U.S. have seen an edited version of Schitt’s Creek. In December 2019, a Twitter user alerted Levy to an edit made in the U.K. on the 4Music channel that removed a same-sex kiss and dialogue around male characters sleeping together.

Footage of the Jake/David kiss having been edited out. Aside from this censorship being highly disturbing and dangerous, it was a big laugh in the scene! This is very disheartening. @4Music https://t.co/7ExmZG9bIO

— dan levy (@danjlevy) December 22, 2019

Thank you @4Music for acknowledging human error. The human that edited out that content did make a very dangerous error. I’m glad and relieved that this is going to be fixed. Presumably across all platforms/including the other David/Patrick scene that was trimmed from S4E1? https://t.co/1pQQNCEwa7

— dan levy (@danjlevy) December 23, 2019

Schitt’s Creek ended its run this year with a massive night at the Emmys on September 20, where it won in all seven categories it was nominated in, making history for the most wins for a comedy in its final season and being the first series, comedy or drama, to win Best Actor (Eugene Levy), Best Actress (Catherine O’Hara), Best Supporting Actor (Dan Levy) and Best Supporting Actress (Annie Murphy). The final season of the CBC and Pop TV series arrived early on streaming giant Netflix this month following its massive night at the first virtual Emmys.

Surprise! Season 6 & the Best Wishes, Warmest Regards documentary just dropped early on @netflix @Netflix_CA! Have a great weekend! ? pic.twitter.com/QJZ8CWhyqH

— dan levy (@danjlevy) October 3, 2020

During its six-season run, Schitt’s Creek broke new ground with its storylines and accompanying media campaign, which included billboards in major markets showing Levy and Reid’s characters kissing. The series won the GLAAD Award for Best Comedy in 2019 and 2020. In March, Levy was honoured by the Human Rights Campaign for his work on Schitt’s Creek and received the HRC Visibility Award. During an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show earlier this year, Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Stephanie Beatriz tearfully told Levy what his show and specifically, his character David Rose, has meant to her as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.“I just have to say, as a fellow person in the queer community, I am so amazed by you. I think the fact that the Human Rights Campaign is honouring you is not enough,” said Beatriz. “I just think that your work in general is just so beautiful and so thrilling, but the thing that you’ve done, which I think is so incredible, is that you’ve introduced audiences to this character who just so happens to be who he is and that is going to create change. Social change, empathy in people, and it’s so incredible.”[video_embed id='2049925']BEFORE YOU GO: 'Horse girl' from Alberta can gallop and jump just like a horse [/video_embed]