‘Wheel of Fortune’ Yanks ‘Southern Charm Week’ Image After Slavery Claim
“Wheel of Fortune” is putting a positive spin on things, after being accused of depicting slaves in an image from its “Southern Charm” week.
After being called out on social media, the popular game show has decided to replace the background image in future airings.
“Wheel of Fortune” executive producer Harry Friedman also said that the show regrets having used the image in the first place.
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“We regret the use of this background image, and we will be replacing it moving forward on any rebroadcast,” Friedman said in a statement provided to TheWrap on Monday.
While the game show’s “Southern Charm” week originally aired in March, the image apparently didn’t capture viewers’ attention until last week, when a Twitter user identified as Joshua Itiola tweeted, “Someone please tell me why @WheelofFortune has slaves in their ‘Southern Charm Week’ images?”
Someone please tell me why @WheelofFortune has slaves in their “Southern Charm Week” images? pic.twitter.com/IPCFo9wh1b
– Joshua Itiola (@joshitiola) June 16, 2017
An individual familiar with the situation told TheWrap that the image in question was a screen grab taken from footage shot on location in 2005 for a New Orleans “Wheel of Fortune” remote. The image, which was unaltered, depicts two Oak Alley tour guides.
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A spokesperson for the restaurant and inn told Fox News that, while its employees do not portray slaves, tour guides do wear period clothing.
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