TV Land: No 'Dukes of Hazzard'

This is insane.

Reruns of The Dukes of Hazzard aren't fit for public consumption according to TV Land.

From The Hollywood Reporter:

TV Land has pulled reruns of Dukes of Hazzard in light of the recent uproar over the Confederate flag, which is emblazoned on the roof of the show's iconic General Lee 1969 Dodge Charger, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

The show has faced criticism over the depiction of the controversial flag in the wake of the June 17 shooting in Charleston, S.C., that left nine dead, and what many viewed as South Carolina's delayed decision to take the flag down.

...Warner Bros.' consumer division announced on June 24 that it will stop licensing toy cars and models featuring the General Lee with the flag.

In a recent interview with THR, Dukes of Hazzard star John Schneider defended the series' use of the flag. "Labeling anyone who has the flag a 'racist' seems unfair to those who are clearly 'never meanin' no harm,'" he said. His co-star Ben Jones has also come out in defense of the flag, saying it represents the "indomitable spirit of independence."

The Parents Television Council weighed in TV Land's decision Wednesday. Although the organization said they did not oppose the reasoning behind TV Land's actions, the council blasted the network and its parent company, Viacom, for "blatant hypocrisy" they say the media company demonstrated.

..."Restraint and responsibility do not infringe on the First Amendment and do not encroach on Free Speech rights. If TV Land is willing to pull The Dukes of Hazzard, out of concern for its harmful impact on our society (and it is good that Viacom is publicly acknowledging its programming can have a harmful impact on our society), they cannot then hide behind the First Amendment to refute the compelling evidence of harm from the violent and sexualized media content they continue to produce and air with impunity."

Yes, the hypocrisy is undeniable.

This idiotic banning of the Confederate flag is making it a symbol for free speech rights.

I have never owed anything nor have I ever wanted anything with the Confederate flag on it.

However, in the name of free speech and to display my concern about the assault on First Amendment rights, I now almost want to get some stuff with the Confederate flag.

A Dukes of Hazzard lunch box, with a thermos with the Confederate flag, is still available on eBay.

Don't tread on me.

This banning ridiculousness is wrong. The bullying is incredible.

The Dukes of Hazzard did not promote the killing of innocents in a church.

Refusing to air the program is crazy.

Time to stop watching TV Land.

BOYCOTT BOYCOTT BOYCOTT Boycott @tvland until they put The Dukes Of Hazzard back on tv! #TheDukesofHazzard pic.twitter.com/gAHuMoc6Sz

— Shannon Sanford (@ShannonSanford9) July 1, 2015

America, land of the free.