In a bold move that has left many shaking their heads, AMC Networks recently decided to add a trigger warning before airing the iconic 1990 mob film “Goodfellas.” This trigger warning cautioned viewers that they were about to watch content that might not align with today’s cultural norms and values.
The warning stated, “This film includes language and/or cultural references that do not adhere to modern standards of inclusivity and tolerance and may offend certain viewers.” Shockingly, AMC revealed that this decision was made in 2020 as a response to the perceived need to shield viewers from potentially offensive content.
It’s worth noting that this same cautionary approach is not applied to other mob movies aired by the network, which typically receive warnings related to nudity and violence instead. This selective application of trigger warnings has raised eyebrows and drawn criticism from various quarters.
One such critic is Bo Ditel, a former NYPD officer who had a role in “Goodfellas.” Ditel minced no words in expressing his displeasure at the fact that warnings are now being slapped on a film like “Goodfellas.” According to him, this move is nothing more than an attempt to rewrite history and sanitize the realities of the time period portrayed in the movie.
Ditel’s sentiments were echoed by Michael Franzese, a former captain of the Colombo crime family, who dismissed the idea of needing protection from the depictions of mobsters in films. These voices are a clear indication that the tide of political correctness sweeping through our society is eroding the freedom to present historical truths in an unvarnished manner.
As the woke culture continues its march through the corridors of entertainment, trigger warnings have become commonplace across various forms of artistic expression. The recent backlash against trigger warnings in theater productions is another example of this encroachment on creative freedom.
Renowned English actress Judie Dench joined the chorus of dissent against trigger warnings, questioning the necessity of coddling audiences who are supposedly too fragile to handle challenging content. Dench’s stance emphasizes the idea that the essence of theater lies in its ability to surprise, provoke, and stimulate, rather than catering to the sensitivities of an increasingly sheltered audience.
While warnings related to health and safety issues have always had a place in the performing arts, the recent trend of extending trigger warnings to themes of race, gender, and historical context threatens to dilute the power and impact of artistic expression. The question that remains is whether we are heading towards a future where art is watered down to meet the demands of an overly cautious and easily offended audience.
In conclusion, the addition of trigger warnings to films like “Goodfellas” not only undermines the integrity of creative storytelling but also sets a dangerous precedent for the future of artistic freedom. It’s time to push back against this tide of censorship and uphold the value of honest, unfiltered storytelling in our entertainment industry.
