An online campaign against the development of HBO series Confederate has gained traction with the #NoConfederate hashtag, after opponents of the planned alt-history series were asked to tweet their criticism during the premiere of Game Of Thrones’ latest episode.
Confederate, which is being developed by Game Of Thrones masterminds David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, has been slammed since its announcement. The upcoming series focuses on a divided America in which the South never outlawed slavery, and critics have questioned the ability of two white men to oversee such a concept.
Others have pointed to the casting decisions on Game Of Thrones as evidence Benioff and Weiss would struggle to portray the issue with any sensitivity, and more still have questioned why the show even needs to exist when fraught race relations exist in real life.
In an attempt to demonstrate those concerns to HBO, April Reign – who also instituted the #OscarsSoWhite campaign – called followers to adopt the #NoConfederate hashtag as Game Of Thrones aired in the United States.
We know we have the power to make change. Let’s show @hbo how many people are against #Confederate. Please join us Sunday w/ #NoConfederate.
— April (@ReignOfApril) July 28, 2017
Speaking to the LA Times, Reign said the idea was to demonstrate that “we feel HBO’s money, time and energy can be better placed on a different idea.” Judging by the proliferation of #NoConfederate during and after Game Of Thrones’ airing, it seems unlikely the cable network would have missed that take.
https://twitter.com/colectivovacio/status/891831808421134336
Because, for some, the Confederacy isn’t alt-history. It’s right now. #NoConfederate @hbo pic.twitter.com/NEm2vmghEJ
— April (@ReignOfApril) July 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/IBJIYONGI/status/891830774957297666
https://twitter.com/YoldineMeris/status/891827008535134208
B/c #NoConfederate is not simply issue of history, it’s also issue of the fantasy genre being largely limited to the fantasies of white men
— Bree Newsome Bass (@BreeNewsome) July 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/teresalo_tweets/status/891810826432126977
https://twitter.com/dropdownmama/status/891826742960304128
Previously, Benioff and Weiss responded to the criticism by asking viewers to reserve their judgment, because “it’s an ugly and a painful history, but we all think this is a reason to talk about it, not a reason to run from it. And this feels like a potentially valuable way to talk about it.”
As Game Of Thrones aired, #NoConfederate became a trending hashtag on the platform. To critics, social media already is a valuable way of talking about it.
