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Affleck insisted on censoring the fact that one of his ancestors owned slaves from PBS show “Finding Your Roots,” a Sony email hack revealed.
Ben Affleck apologized for trying to bury a slave-holding relative after that dark chapter was unearthed by researchers behind the PBS TV series "Finding Your Roots."
A 2014 email exchange between show host Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Sony chief Michael Lynton — made public by WikiLeaks last week — detailedAffleck's behind-the-scenes attempt to kill his connection to the distant family member.
Gates, a respected Harvard scholar, ultimately focused on three other Affleck ancestors, from a Revolutionary War connection to an occult enthusiast and finally the actor's mother, who took part in the Freedom Summer of 1964 in Mississippi.
Affleck responded to the controversy Tuesday on Facebook, saying he was "embarrassed" to know he was related to someone who owned slaves, but admitted it was a missed opportunity.
"I regret my initial thoughts that the issue of slavery not be included in the story," Affleck said on Facebook. "We deserve neither credit nor blame for our ancestors and the degree of interest in this story suggests that we are, as a nation, still grappling with the terrible legacy of slavery. It is an examination well worth continuing.
"We've never had anyone ever try to censor or edit what we found,” Henry Louis Gates Jr. said in an email unveiled by WikiLeaks. “He's a megastar. What do we do?"
"I am glad that my story, however indirectly, will contribute to that discussion. While I don't like that the guy is an ancestor, I am happy that aspect of our country's history is being talked about."
PBS announced Tuesday it was investigating the episode "Roots of Freedom" and said Gates and his producers were cooperating.
"In order to gather the facts to determine whether or not all of PBS' editorial standards were observed, on Saturday, April 18th, we began an internal review," PBS said in a statement. "We have been moving forward deliberately yet swiftly to conduct this review."
Gates himself raised the possibility that giving in to Affleck's demand would compromise the show's editorial integrity.
"For the first time, one of our guests has asked us to edit out something about one of his ancestors — the fact that he owned slaves," Gates told the Sony executive in an email from July 22.
"We've never had anyone ever try to censor or edit what we found," Gates continued. "He's a megastar. What do we do?"
Lynton, responding to his "dilemma," advised the Harvard historian to bow to the star's wishes.
"I would take it out if no one knows, but if it gets out that you are editing the material based on this kind of sensitivity then it gets tricky. Again, all things being equal I would definitely take it out," he replied.
Gates said last week the show did not include the slave connection because ultimately it wasn't as compelling as the other storylines "Finding Your Roots" pursued.
The Academy Award-winning actor and producer said Tuesday he believed the attempt to steer the show was simply part of the creative process and something he would do with any production.
"(Gates) decided what went into the show. I lobbied him the same way I lobby directors about what takes of mine I think they should use," Affleck said. "This is the collaborative creative process. Skip agreed with me on the slave owner but made other choices I disagreed with. In the end, it's his show and I knew that going in. I'm proud to be his friend and proud to have participated.
"It's important to remember that this isn't a news program," Affleck added. "Finding Your Roots is a show where you voluntarily provide a great deal of information about your family, making you quite vulnerable. The assumption is that they will never be dishonest but they will respect your willingness to participate and not look to include things you think would embarrass your family."
