Resurfaced Netflix description of 'Gone with the Wind' as being 'known for its racism' sparks online uproar

Netflix is drawing criticism from online commentators who accuse the platform of forcing political messaging into how the epic film "Gone with the Wind" is described on the streaming service.

The resurfaced description circulated online this week, reads, "A 1939 American Civil War epic known for its racism." It also directs viewers to instead search for Black Lives Matter content, adding, "To learn more about Black lives in America, search 'Black Lives Matter.'"

While the 1939 film is unavailable to stream on Netflix in the United States, the title page remains live as an inactive placeholder on its website. The inclusion of the Black Lives Matter label on the public landing page has drawn criticism online, with commentators accusing Netflix of imposing modern political narratives on a classic film. It's unclear, however, who penned the description.

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Vivien Leigh, left, and Hattie McDaniel appear in a publicity still for the 1939 film "Gone with the Wind." Leigh portrayed Scarlett O'Hara, while McDaniel played Mammy. (Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)

"Buy physical media," Turning Point Action's Jack Posobiec wrote on X in response to an original post by user Valliant Renegade, who shared a screenshot of the Netflix page.

On Wednesday, billionaire Elon Musk waded into the debate, responding to a post about the description and writing simply: "Needs to change."

"Holy crap. I just checked. It's real," conservative account End Wokeness wrote.

It's not new, however; the description has been there for years.

In contrast, HBO Max, which is currently streaming the movie in the United States, describes it thusly: "A strong-willed Southern belle struggles to save her beloved home and find love against the backdrop of the American Civil War and Reconstruction." On Hulu, the description reads, "Classic tale of Scarlett O'Hara's battle to save her beloved Tara and find love during the Civil War."

"Gone with the Wind" is no stranger to controversy and has long faced accusations of promoting racist themes. In 2020, HBO Max temporarily removed the movie in the wake of the George Floyd protests and a scathing Los Angeles Times opinion piece calling for its removal, though it did eventually return with an added historical introduction.

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The LA Times op-ed, written by John Ridley, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of "12 Years a Slave," accused the film of romanticizing the "horrors of slavery" and demanded its temporary removal.

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Ridley wrote, "It is a film that glorifies the antebellum South. It is a film that, when it is not ignoring the horrors of slavery, pauses only to perpetuate some of the most painful stereotypes of people of color."

Based on Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel, the action follows Southern belle Scarlett O’Hara, the daughter of a plantation owner, as she struggles to keep possession of her family’s property amid the Civil War.

The film version, which is nearly four hours long, won eight Academy Awards in 1940, including Best Picture. Actress Hattie McDaniel made history as the first Black person to win an Oscar for her role as "Mammy."

Adjusted for inflation, it is by far the highest grossing movie of all time, and it is frequently ranked by critics as one of Hollywood's greatest and most influential films.

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Protesters demonstrated against the film "Gone with the Wind" in Chicago on Jan. 1, 1940, objecting to the movie's depiction of race. (Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)

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Critics have accused the film of portraying the antebellum South as idyllic and peaceful, framing the Civil War not as a fight to end slavery, but as a defense of a civilized way of life. It has also been accused of erasing the brutal reality of slavery in the South and perpetuating harmful stereotypes about Black characters.

Fox News Digital reached out to Netflix for comment but did not immediately hear back.