Netflix is facing criticism for a description of the 1939 film "Gone With the Wind" that labels it "known for its racism" and directs users to search for Black Lives Matter content. The description, which has been present on the platform's inactive placeholder page for the film for years, resurfaced this week, prompting backlash from online commentators.
While "Gone With the Wind" is not currently available to stream in the United States on Netflix, the public landing page for the title remains live. The inclusion of a prompt to "learn more about Black lives in America, search 'Black Lives Matter'" alongside the film's description has been interpreted by critics as an imposition of modern political narratives onto a classic movie.
Billionaire Elon Musk weighed in on the controversy, responding to a post about the description with a simple message: "Needs to change."
Conservative commentators and online accounts also voiced their disapproval. Jack Posobiec of Turning Point Action suggested users "Buy physical media," while the account End Wokeness confirmed the description's existence, stating, "Holy crap. I just checked. It's real."
In contrast, other streaming services offer different descriptions of the film. HBO Max, which currently streams "Gone With the Wind" in the U.S., describes it as "A strong-willed Southern belle struggles to save her beloved home and find love against the backdrop of the American Civil War and Reconstruction." Hulu's 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" has a long history of controversy due to accusations of promoting racist themes. In 2020, HBO Max temporarily removed the film in the aftermath of the George Floyd protests. This move followed a Los Angeles Times opinion piece by Oscar-winning screenwriter John Ridley, who argued that the film "glorifies the antebellum South" and "perpetuates some of the most painful stereotypes of people of color." The film was later reinstated with a historical introduction.
Based on Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel, the film chronicles the life of Scarlett O’Hara, a Southern belle navigating the Civil War and Reconstruction. The 1939 film adaptation was a critical and commercial success, winning eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Hattie McDaniel made history with her win for Best Supporting Actress, becoming the first Black performer to receive an Oscar.
Adjusted for inflation, "Gone With the Wind" remains one of the highest-grossing films of all time and is frequently ranked among Hollywood's most influential works. However, critics have also pointed to its portrayal of the antebellum South as idyllic and its alleged erasure of the brutal realities of slavery and perpetuation of harmful stereotypes about Black characters.
Fox News Digital reached out to Netflix for comment but had not received a response by the time of publication.