Yvette Nicole Brown on the Pulled D&D Episode of Community | io9 interview

[@constructiongeek4361]

Exactly, it was a huge over reaction. It was an amazing storyline dealing with depression and how a Community saved Neil.

[@TheNegaHero]

And thanks to them he's still out there, doing this and that in the background.

[@mauriciovaldes9007]

Fat Neil!

[@andrewwilliams528]

*Fabulous Neil

[@josephrhoads5958]

I go out of my way to watch this episode

[@twackburn]

Did they really, though?

[@ztcgamer9652]

That episode is honestly one of my favorite takes on mental health and self harm that we’ve ever gotten on television We really do need it back

[@oaf-77]

As someone who struggled, this episode spoke volumes to me. It was cathartic.

[@zachlavinesintern3343]

The movie is coming out this year🙏🏽

[@jacobcortez3545]

The episode has so much heart to it. It shows how you can accidentally contribute to making somebody's life harder without even knowing it. It shows the importance of trying to correct mistakes like that and fix the way that you treat people. It shows the importance of making somebody feel like they matter, as well as putting aside your ego and admitting that you're wrong so that you can be better to others. It shows the important role that having friends can play in someone's life. And heck, it even showed how D&D can bring people together who would have other reason to be together outside of the game (Pierce and Neil). But nope. Chang paints his skin black (and not even to look like a black person or to mock them, but to look like an ELF) which is clearly offensive with no nuance at all so ban the episode and pretend it never existed. For cryin' out loud, Chang had SLIVER HAIR and POINTY EARS! It kinda makes you wonder if anybody calling it offensive has ever even SEEN a black person.

[@oceanrosef.3107]

It's available on not legal sites

[@FeebleAntelope]

@ztcgamer9652 8 months ago // "We really do need it back" // @oceanrosef.3107 1 month ago //"It's available on not legal sites" What oceanrosef.3107 said. Just being real here: Media corporations have made it clear that they refuse to provide a better service than pirates. 1.) They take things down all the time because they make more money sometimes by NOT providing the thing they're nominally there to provide. 2.) They too often refuse to provide options for law-abiding citizens to legally obtain their many of their products. You might live in the "wrong country" or maybe they just don't wanna push a few buttons to put in online for purchase.

[@TheOmegasVisage]

Dude I’m black and Yvette’s character literally says, “so we’re just going to ignore that hate crime?” and it never once felt offensive. Just like well executed comedy.

[@Guadeloop]

Community is really good at telling these types of jokes while flipping the target of the jokes on bigotry itself, other shows could learn a lot from them.

[@vineethonkan]

I loved that joke. The first time I saw that ep I already knew that it was meant to be a joke, and not taken seriously.

This decision has to have been made by an over-cautious exec or lawyer. There is no way that it was removed because someone actually got offended by this.

[@ForNoOne1]

@ Even if someone did get offended by it, that doesn't mean the joke itself is mean-spirited or exploitative or punching down. Context matters. Literally anything could be interpreted as offensive to some random person in the world, it's patronizing to assume an audience can't discern between actual offensive material and satire.

[@yoda5436]

@@Guadeloopyeppp, i mean it's always sunny has ran for 16 seasons using the same method, they can make the most heinous jokes on that show n it's chill cuz we know the gang are all awful psychotic people that we shouldn't be glorifying anyway, and community does the same by having a character portrayed positively (shirley) call that out in a character portrayed negatively (chang) i mean chang is literally an elf in that scene, like he has white hair and pointed ears, even still the show acknowledges how it looks and doesn't make excuses for it, instead pinning that look on a character they already established as an awful person

[@jonathanpatch5281]

Yvette is always very classy about name checking the actors who play the smaller parts on the show. And in this particular case, one who is promoted to main character status for this one show.

[@jonn3132]

It's one of the best episodes and it's really important as the whole theme of the episode is about depression, mental health, bullying and suicide. Literally shows examples on what to look for in someone that is suicidal. To quote the episode itself: "... recognized the signs of coming doom."

[@nunziocombattelli6311]

I know I’m 8 months late but this ep is one of my top 5 favorites. Disappointed me when they pulled it.

[@JackBarlowStudios]

Exactly. It’s not Ken Jeong doing blackface, it’s Ken Jeong playing a character who’s too oblivious to realize that his drow cosplay could be construed as blackface, and it’s hilarious.

[@clintbrew]

it was so funny that he was in full make up and costume just to get "killed" a few seconds later 😂

[@GrammeStudio]

oh boy i can already see them misconstruing racist Pierce

[@Taijifufu]

You _know_ Chang made the drow makeup look like blackface on purpose. Because he wants to participate and be friends but he's also Chang and he's a jerk.

[@KJ4EZJ]

​@@hipnotyq Idk what you guys mean, I can't find any torrents that are missing this episode.

[@Isaac-gj8tf]

Yeah it so in his character reminds me of the "bear down for midterm" he is insensitive because he is oblivious and stupid not because of hate

[@aquament]

The interesting thing about Yvette responding in this way is you know damn well she's going to stand for exactly what she believes, and if this episode was wrong, she would have called it out.

[@TheTardisDreamer]

Exactly. She is someone who wouldn't tolerate racism for one second.

[@tatonka411]

Truth

[@redvonmunster3731]

​@@TheTardisDreamer 😂😂😂 check her favorite sports teams. She's bigoted trash

[@RecoveringChristian]

Gen z ruins everything

[@PatMullen13]

​@@RecoveringChristian more like gen x or boomers over reacting because they don't always have the best gauge of what's actually offensive.

[@bgheadjack]

Yes! Love this. "It had been handled." Perfectly said.

[@pderham26]

She doesn't even seem to get the joke

[@Stardust_Lily]

@@pderham26 She did, she acknowledged that the whole "is this blackface? no, it's a drow" thing was referenced in the episode for those who might not be familiar with DnD, when Shirley brings it up.

[@pderham26]

@@Stardust_Lily It appearing to be blackface was the joke

[@hotlinewav]

@@pderham26 what are you not getting here? she definitely understood the joke and even went as far to describe how shirley would accuse him of a hate crime which demonstrates an understanding that it wasn't actually blackface. she said exactly what you just said. you're either dumb or trolling... or both

[@eyeknow8009]

​@@pderham26the joke is him being a doofus thinking it's okay to do that and not knowing what he's doing also getting killed in the game is funny

[@BAMinNYC]

Literally my favorite episode of any TV show ever. Great message, and holy wow the SOUND DESIGN on that episode -- it helped sell the drama of the "theater of the mind" that happens in D&D, but visually all you ever see is them sitting at a table.

[@stephengrigg5988]

I can still vividly picture Pierce, naked on a dragon

[@ChartreuseDan]

Admittedly Annie's miming helps clarify some things

[@caseypayne5138]

@@ChartreuseDan Easily the most hilarious sex scene after Team America 🤣

[@aslamc9288]

Ken Jeong was playing a dark elf, not a human. It’s such a shame this episode has been pulled, because it’s not only an absolutely hilarious episode, it’s the most powerful episode of the whole series. To show how a simple act of kindness can literally save a person’s life, a person who’s been hurting so much, for so long, that most people don’t even notice anymore-this is an episode that needs to be celebrated, not shunned.

[@LazzyVamples]

Nobody said "human." she said "drow."

[@EveryoneWhoUsesThisTV]

Definitely the episode I rewatch the most... It's my second favourite bit of D&D playing on TV, after the I.T. Crowd... :)

[@ColtonFultonUK]

Even D&D changed the Drow's skin color because everyone is so fucking sensitive. Now they're like a pale blue. So dumb. Black is not brown!!!

[@92brunod]

@amples What are you on about? Nobody said anything about what "she" (I assume Yvette) said.

[@fashnek]

“Ken Jeong was playing a dark elf” - lmao, no, he was playing a D&D player

[@GuardianOwl]

It also gives you insight into Chang's character. For how insane he usually is, it is clear he was finally so excited to participate in an activity with the group that he was clearly passionate about. I imagine he spent a lot of his time in his youth playing D&D with a small group of friends. He is so heartbroken when his character dies early.

[@jhedjoardumago7691]

And it's not like the group wants his character dead. Sure they don't really like Chang, but he was also in agreement to play with Neil, which shows the line between Chang vs Pierce as villains were not yet defined at that point.

[@isaaccabal7054]

Lol I just read this and it made me feel bad for him now but at the same time made me laugh more hahahaha

[@GuardianOwl]

@@jhedjoardumago7691 Not just with Neil, but _for_ Neil, to try and improve his mood. Chang was also the first to step forward to try and help within the confines of the rules by taking the sword back in the game, which is what led to his death.

[@jhedjoardumago7691]

@@GuardianOwl yeah Chang actually straight up trying to taking the sword back got him killed. It shows how much of a member of the group he's always been. I mean his Spanish class was the reason they got together in the first place, and it was proven during the ice cream shop moment that he had always been around.

[@Taijifufu]

​@@jhedjoardumago7691 gas leak year.

[@just_j_like_the_letter]

This ep getting pulled is what got me to start buying physical media of my favorite shows again; it made me realize anything I watch can just disappear at any time for any reason unless I actually own a physical copy of it

[@jerodtereshka3908]

Same plus with how many streaming sites there are now and how much they change content back and forth it's annoying not being able to find what I want to watch

[@JDoe-gf5oz]

You need to get the early seasons of Always Sunny too, as they pulled the Lethal Weapon episodes over blackface.

[@NakAlienEd]

DVDs ripped to a hard-drive and then stored in a tupper-ware in the basement is the way I roll now.

[@flipina]

I avoid torrents and would love DVDs of Always Sunny and Community. But DVDs are hard to find here, might have to pay for expensive shipping. Welp, torrents it is. 😢

[@NakAlienEd]

@@tenbones545 I like having a physical backup, just in case. I also have complete control over quality. I'm also a huge fan of listening to director's commentary, and the other bonus stuff that most dvds have, and not all torrent site have those available.

[@jonhon]

She also used this opportunity to praise Charley Koontz. Class Act!

[@rebeccagibbs4128]

i like to think his character in The Boys was a parallel timeline where Neil never made friends.

[@asmodiusjones9563]

Koontz really did shine in this episode. “For my turn, I feel sorry for Pierce Hawthorne”. Has stuck with me for more than a decade.

[@janeene24]

I’m black and it’s one of my favorite episodes! I never once considered it racist. I was so sad when they pulled it from streaming services.

[@rbriggs89]

Same

[@malalford]

Human skin colour has nothing to do with it.

[@pansyconvoy]

It's also a shame for it to be cut out because it's an episode that gets referenced like a hundred times across the whole series. I was super confused when I first watched the show because they keep referencing this episode but I never saw it

[@ella6547]

I think it's fantastic to see someone as beloved as Yvette standing up for the strength of the morality of this episode.

[@Tanglebrook]

True, but io9 not showing the moment she's discussing is an extremely cowardly move.

[@vigolovesyou]

@@Tanglebrook I have to disagree, Yvette already explained what the issue is, so there’s no need to show it.

[@BCWasbrough]

It was also a great episode to get friends who like D&D interested in Community.

[@scalyscallion]

And I imagine the other way around as well!

[@snuffywuffykiss1522]

@@scalyscallion I play DnD. I have no idea what "Community" is. And now I guess I never will.

[@cartoonraccoon2078]

@@snuffywuffykiss1522 What? Why?

[@christophervanhindenburg4220]

I discovered community fairly late and got interested because I heared of this episode. I was very disappointed to find out that the episode got axed, after dedicating many hours to catch up.

[@ProfDCoy]

There's a weird sadness to realising that I can show friends that episode from my Community DVDs and that will never go away...but all of the new people who discovered Vpmmunity through Nteflix will never see this top 10 episode AND be robbed of the context for the second DnD episode. :(

[@micahbush5397]

I think Chang's costume choice also works with his character. He's shown himself to be rather insensitive, hence why it wouldn't occur to him that painting his face black might be misinterpreted.

[@jhedjoardumago7691]

Agree. He was clueless due to being insensitive. However it shows how much he just wants to enjoy things that he bothered with Makeup for his Dark Elf.

[@wvu05]

​@d a r l i n g J o Blackface is something very different from what Chang wore. It's not dark face make-up but an attempt to match a racial skin tone.

[@wvu05]

@d a r l i n g J o If you're talking about the "shoe polish" variety, that was clearly not the same as what Chang did here. A lot of blackface tended to be brown.

[@Farseli]

@d a r l i n g J o you actually must divorce it if you wish to understand it. Until you can you're just wrong.

[@nickv1212]

It's the Homer Simpson approach, same with everything Pierce says. We know these characters to be dumb, easily suggestible and they each have outdated views, that's the point. They're showing that the only people who think this stuff is okay is always the dumbest person in the room. And if you're someone who identifies with Chang for the simple fact that he did blackface and wish you could do it yourself, then you're seeing yourself in Ben Chang, the craziest character in a show full of crazy characters. That's how you're supposed to satirize tough topics like this, atleast I thought it was. Netflix thinks otherwise.

[@G_Wanna_Be]

We NEED this episode back - it's one of the best ones out of the entire show

[@amirwarsanah6752]

Chevy Chase was magnificent in it.

[@BurningOaks]

What a wonderful and elegant way to explain this over reaction and the true understanding of the characters and content of D&D. Thank you.

[@knoway35951]

Yvette is so fantastic. She was delightful on Community and I couldn’t image the series without her.

[@rollingstairs1]

same love her. She is absolutely hilarious with what little she was given

[@holyheretic3185]

"ill make your ass sense." lol

[@bernardsoul5186]

As millennial white atheist male, I somehow always loved her storylines and her character

[@gerbendekker3273]

@@rollingstairs1Around the time Donald Glover left the series, for some reason her arcs were more determined to put her in the spotlight as a very powerful individual in that group and series. Early two seasons, great as they were, really didn’t give her a lot. But she managed to stand out as a memorable individual anyway

[@apradofsc]

Thanks to this episode I became a dnd enthusiast and have wanted to play for years. Long story short got married, made friends at our local board game shop and purchase a bunch of books to start my own adventure!

[@taurak81]

Just gained so much respect for her. She gets it.

[@aozf05]

You could almost say she's streets ahead

[@ricobhi]

She's always been real since day 1. She's amazing

[@JT5555]

i saw her interview for frog and toad on the daily show and i was impressed with just how real she is. this lady knows her shit and i'm all for it.

[@tomwisniewski8988]

@@aozf05 Stop trying to coin the phrase "streets ahead".

[@aozf05]

@@tomwisniewski8988 Coined and minted! Been there, coined that! "Streets ahead" is verbal wildfire!

[@abrahamGzzv]

I was rewatching the show for the millionth time on Netflix and I remembered that the episode was banned, out of curiosity I checked if it was available on Prime Video, and it is! At least here in Mexico.

[@MasonMsotsos]

Same in Canada, I can watch it on prime video! It’s not on the other service where the episode is skipped

[@paulg6527]

They also pulled an episode of the Golden Girls where a situation was a joke on "black face." Dorothy's son's fiance's mother came to visit, and they didn't know she/the family was black. Blanche and Rose came out wearing mud masks the second the black family came in, to which Rose said, "we're doing a mud mask, we're not trying to be black..." or something along those lines. It's another incident of over correction..

[@comettripper]

I hate this, it shows how much they don't understand racism and are just trying to seem woke. This joke's actually really funny, and, as usual, sort of calls out racism too. Mud masks are mud masks, but there are a bunch of self care products that didn't have to look like that, and probably make people feel weird wearing them. I wonder if this is why most shows have girls wearing green facemasks

[@busorenkin8]

For those who want more Yvette, she shows up in the new Netflix series, My Dad the Bounty Hunter. She's still awesome, as expected.

[@SuperWolfkin]

That's the animated one with the two daughters who stole away and their father's space vessel or something right?

[@busorenkin8]

@@SuperWolfkin Daughter and son but yeah, it's fun and funny with good animation and voice acting. Jim Rash (The Dean from Community) also plays a small part in the series so it's a nice nod to Community fans.

[@SuperWolfkin]

@@busorenkin8 ahh yes sorry I only vaguely remember seeing a trailer. It did look interesting. Might have to check it out.

[@TheJamesneto]

I beg to differ Sir. Messianic Myths and Ancient Peoples is #1 with Pillows and Blankets coming in with a close second.

[@roniyarose9470]

Oh I love that show! I'm gonna have to look up who she voices because I can't recall (only adult female characters I can think of are the mom and the computer)

[@blackpenman]

Also part of the joke is that even though technically it wasn't blackface and was accurate to the lore of the setting, it still showed how socially incompetent Chang was. The joke WAS that it looked like blackface and was socially unacceptable to do, just more of the absurdism of Community. A show that loves to poke fun of racial stereotypes while also making jokes about and using them.

[@renardfox328]

I agree with her 100%. That was a tremendous episode, one of the best of the entire series in fact! The scenario in question is not insensitive when you consider the context and allow for nuance. As Yvette said, it was already "handled" in the episode. The attentive audience or regular viewer is supposed to understand that Chang's character is insensitive and that Shirley didn't understand D&D lore. Even if we think Chang's action is intolerable (it wasn't, he was just dressing up like an elf from the lore), he is an extremely flawed character--the audience understands that his actions are so often absurd or downright devious. In other words, we aren't laughing "with" him, we're laughing "at" him. It actually presents the audience with societal norms regarding such things.

[@JPD2587]

0:41 - 1000% this. What a shame that this episode was pulled.

[@Frankenberryoneone]

It is my favorite episode in community (and there are so many great ones to choose from). It should definitely be available on Netflix.

[@katherinesherrell1775]

Yes absolutely. That was a great episode and it is so ridiculous that it was removed. I'm so glad she said that

[@jenniferm1092]

It is one of the best community episodes

[@rockgvmt]

if not THE best…

[@RichardServello]

@@rockgvmt Def The best. I bought it once it was removed.

[@quiett6191]

I remember nearly falling outta my chair laughing when they reveal Chang in his costume, but then later getting a little emotional with the payoff of helping Neil. Both moments were thoroughly earned. Its one of few times a show made me run that gamut of emotions.

[@rebeccagibbs4128]

yes, one of the episodes that shows that Jeff truly wants to be better and feels guilt and remorse for his casual fatphobia. such a great episode

[@NottherealLucifer]

​@@RichardServello I bought the entire season when they removed it, I think it's season two if I'm not mistaken. It was well worth it.

[@thenatural1sttrpg]

Yvette is a national treasure. Absolutely love her.

[@pderham26]

She doesn't seem to get the joke

[@ZakEmber]

It's nice to hear someone talking about art with some common sense. There is a huge distinction between fantasy and reality, and this was clearly, by any reasonable standard, not racist.

[@marlone3680]

It's so wierd that they've pulled this episode, while the black face Mad Men episode is still up... which I agree because 1. they had a disclosure before the episode and 2. it was cohesive with the actions of wealth white people back in the 50's, so it was handled. They should do the same for community.

[@danboud8135]

Yvette Nicole Brown is an absolute class act. Elegantly put.

[@tonifloyd9420]

It's one of my favorite Community episodes. I was sad they pulled it and didn't see it as mocking Black people but wondered if Yvette or Donald found it offensive. Now that we've heard from Yvette, I hope they will put that wonderful episode back on. Thanks, Yvette for sharing your take on it. ❤

[@TheEldritchVoid]

I never really had the impression that it was up in the air due to how vocal the cast was in the writing of the show so if somebody had an issue with something it would be changed or removed ala Chevy chase in later seasons due to him becoming a problem

[@antourte1]

I think using blackface in the episode was a bit foolish mistake. Of every joke / story from "AD&D", Drow Chang was the most unimportant and random. It's a shame something that could've been cut while literally changing none of the rest of the episode has dragged it down. With that said, within the show it was handled as appropriately as it can be, and it's one of the least offensive uses of it you could imagine. Furthermore as Yvette points out, it's a truly excellent episode with deep emotional impact, a valuable message, and hilarious and brilliant writing - one of the best sitcom episodes in decades, and just as worth preserving despite its flaws as, say, _Gone With the Wind._ If not moreso. I will say that the issue with blackface as it's used these days isn't that it's a direct mockery of black people. It's that by assuming the right to "drop it in" as a joke is an implied dismissal/ignoring how it historically was used, sometimes for direct mockery, and other times as a practice of routine discrimination against non-white actors. Today's use isn't normally _directly_ participating in those problem behaviors, but it sort of turns a blind eye to the symbolism of it. Like many symbols it might not directly harm anyone just to show or reference it without malice, but it's still offensive if not treated with appropriate respect, especially to those who might've been directly affected by the more directly harmful uses of it in the past, or their families. Can we say that no production company or broadcaster or executives who profited off this episode have ever turned a blind eye to discrimination in an industry that has a known history of it? If not, do they really have a moral right to decide whether blackface is okay in a production they're profiting from? It's a complicated question. Like I said I think it was a minor mistake to include it, but one that is far outweighed by the value of the episode to our entire culture. But it's not quite as simple as pointing out it wasn't mocking black people.

[@davideberhardt6150]

@@antourte1 There *was no blackface in this episode* ! Have you actually seen the episode? Because I have, a couple of times. No blackface! No symbolism. Just Chang dressed up as a dark elf including a white wig and pointy ear prosthetics. Shirley mistaking it for such was to define Shirely as character, not Chang (exactly how Yvette describes it here in this snippet). And Netflix taking the episode down preemptively was and remains ridiculous.

[@lollerskates89]

@@antourte1 a lot of words to show the point went over your head lol

[@Dreagostini]

@@antourte1 The point of the episode is in addition that not every black painted face is blackfacing. Because context determines of someone is blackfacing or not. And in this instance it isn't.

[@WartimeFriction]

I binged the entirety of Community when I was in Afghanistan. You'd truly be an idiot to misconstrue that episode so wildly. I'm glad Yvette is a smart lady with ample common sense, and an obvious understanding of the media she took part in. Wish her all the best.

[@imadkahya6955]

So you watched a sitcom inbetween killing and raping and torturing people, thank for your service, I hope you get rewarded for you actions one day.... actually I know you will.

[@ohurley11]

Another good example of why I prefer owning physical media.

[@AdairTheSkull]

Wow, the look of just being tired over this on her face. She clearly understood the meaning and hyperbole going on in the episode when so many others didn't. To this day, I can't say "that's nice" without imitating her delivery.

[@monthlyragmag]

Thank goodness! I saw people on reddit using Shirley's line to defend pulling the episode when the cancellation circus first started. Context absolutely matters!

[@done9137]

That's seriously my favorite episode. I actually cried a little during that one. Fat Neil's performance had me emotionally attracted and hooked on that show.

[@canofworms1864]

This episode was my introduction to DND, and it has had such a major impact on me. Looking back and I found that it was taken down I was super sad, because I've met great people and learned new things. I'm happy to hear her talk about it.

[@WPBelzenaar]

Thank you so much! It is by far one of my favorite episodes and it just sucks that it got so misunderstood

[@EbonAvatar]

I don't think it did get misunderstood. Almost everyone watching it knew that it wasn't offensive. But all it takes is one or two whiners to ruin it for the rest of us.

[@JMT420]

I have literally never seen anyone on the other side of this. The fans and cast loved this episode. It was such fake misguided corporate activism to remove it

[@MrBootoob]

Absolutely agree. And the moment the shot pans to Chang with his black-skin and white hair is immediately funny. And it's a great episode. One of the best, in my opinion.

[@Stathio]

What? They removed it?? That's the best episode in the entire show! And like she says- it's literally addressed in the episode itself! Context is really important. Geez, what an overcorrection.

[@wolfofthewest8019]

I want to agree with you, but there's the paintball episode...

[@sixoffcenter80]

I noticed it was missing after my last binge through, but didn't realize that was why it was gone.

[@wolfofthewest8019]

@d a r l i n g J o The first one. That one caught me so off guard. I was not expecting Community to suddenly become this masterclass in low-budget actioneering. That the Russo Bros went on to direct Winter Soldier and Endgame shouldn't surprise anyone who has seen this episode.

[@mspirits9911]

​​@@wolfofthewest8019m, actually, the russo directed the 2nd season one (the western and star wars). The first one was directed by Justin Lin of Fast series (3-6). But, yeah, I like it even the best as well as they even pay homage to Chow Yun Fat hongkong killer movies by making Chang like that 😂

[@seto_kaiba_]

This is why I HATE wokeness.

[@MelodicQuest]

That episode is such a bright and shining moment where the group unanimously came together to help a person in crisis. It's a great way to see how a person could be struggling in plain sight but often gets overlooked.

[@tanvikejriwal1]

You can still buy that episode on KZbin if anyone is interested.

[@dannigro8794]

I really truly think it should be back in rotation. I think everybody needs to get over themselves and I think that nobody really cares anymore

[@TheRealMichaelH]

Nobody cared then, either. Only the studio execs who were afraid that somebody _might_ care, because it was the 2020 Summer of Love.

[@toddboughn5168]

Right on, Yvette! I hope we see Shirley in the movie.

[@Rabbithole8]

That episode is amazing. The show is amazing and the cast is amazing. Ms. Nicole Brown brilliant people like you who understand context and nuance are desperately needed to be heard in these times we find ourselves in. Thank you!

[@IGathron]

Completely agree with this, we live in such a divided world, D&D brings people together.

[@jose.peraltabros]

That's the first episode of community I saw. It got me hooked. What kind of comedy manages to deal with such an important topic in such a powerful way? It's just great storytelling.

[@Harrietmjones]

I saw the episode after learning that it had been removed and why, so I was expecting it to be a particular way but it wasn’t. He was an elf, who has black skin, it was obvious that this was the case and that he wasn’t doing black face. Also, this was kind of a small part of the overarching episode really and the rest felt like it should be seen by others who watch/have watched Community. It’s a shame that it got removed.

[@calmbbaer]

I hesitated watching this, because I was worried about what she'd say, but it turned out to be the smartest, most insightful, most kind-hearted and generous response to this that I've heard yet. Celebrities rarely impress me, but she just did!

[@DrFranklynAnderson]

I recently(ish) read an account of the Salem Witch Trials where the author wondered how people could get whipped up into such a frenzy. Honestly, after all the moral panics of the last 5+ years-I understood completely how it could happen.

[@freebird6591]

Yep, it also helps that they were all trippin on mouldy bread

[@thenablade858]

Moral panic that has done more bad than good have and will always be the norm. Look at McCarthyism or the ‘Satanic panic’ of the 1980’s.

[@42grath]

It was such a linchpin episode of the show. There is a reason the show calls back to it so many times in previous seasons. It cemented Neil as a character, and a lot of character growth and connection was made within that episode. Watching through it again, the 2nd DND episode, while a good episode doesn't hit as hard when you don't have the context of this episode. I really hope they do bring the episode back. Even if they have to make a note like Disney has done in front of some of their older content.

[@AdrianGell]

Really appreciate the context this interview gives. Thank you.

[@Kvltklassik]

Fan favourite. Great episode. Great morals. Covers sensitive important issues in tactful ways. But it was taken down because financial advisors and CEOs didn't want to increase a perceived risk of alienating their 15-30 demographic. Says a lot.

[@Thiabolicoo]

I'm black and that's one of my favorite episodes. A while ago I looked it up to watch and was surprised and sad to find out they removed it.

[@Risad]

I loved that episode and as soon as I saw "Chang" I instantly recognized that he was playing a Drow Elf. However I figured people who didn't know about this race of Elves in D&D could find offense in it... Or people who just wanted to try and cancel something lol. The premise of that episode (based around someone, "Neal", being bullied and the group wanting to help him only to find out that it was the group leader, "Jeff", who started the name-calling in the first place and washed to try and eventually make amends)

[@WafflesInTheRain]

Thank you Yvette for one of the most thoughtful responses possible.

[@Dee8Bee]

That episode was one of my favourites. I never thought it was a racist thing as a brown girl. Just an evil with dark skin being played by Chang. When I’m depressed I often rewatch that episode, because everyone sticks up for Neil and try to help him when he was feeling down.

[@jerelischable]

The fact that we as a people allow this type of censorship to occur is shameful. It is totally our fault. The power resides in the people

[@mportugalmonroy5942]

I need Yvette to be on the movie, her character deserves a great and happy ending. Love me some Shirley 🤍

[@aws1776]

Yes- so much yes. The intent was clear and the execution was clean and hilarious, in particular b/c of the characters’ insights or lack thereof. The episode was about inclusion and acceptance and bullying and the power of shared narrative- as manifested through a D&D session- and the irony of it being “cancelled” is just beyond frustrating! Yvette remains Queens of the Nerds!

[@MJroxOXO]

The fact that Chang isn't even shown when showing clips from that episode just kind of makes it seem like they don't care what Yvette is saying

[@unholyshape]

Salute to her for not falling in line with the others

[@justthesmitty]

This episode got me into D&D

[@ezeonlain]

I've convinced several friends to watch the show by making them watch that very episode first, it's one of my favourites, and I hate that Netflix deleted it

[@kiasta1]

Welcome to the Liberal hivemind. Where everything, that can ever be remotely thought of as offensive, gets censored.

[@alphanerd7221]

@@kiasta1 Okay crazy person.

[@JDoe-gf5oz]

@@alphanerd7221 Crazy for acknowledging reality? Interesting take.

[@alphanerd7221]

@@JDoe-gf5oz okay racist.

[@learningcommons7014]

​@@JDoe-gf5oz Yep. You crazy

[@davidfinch7407]

Yvette, if you see this, I always liked you and I appreciated showing Christians in a (mostly) positive light on the show. Your take on the D&D episode makes me like you even more. Thank you for everything.

[@92brunod]

You think that's a positive light for Christians? WTF? You're deranged.

[@Drace90]

I'm feeling more and more respect for people who are actually capable of nuanced thinking. Becoming kind of rare lately. Good job, Yvette!

[@Drace90]

@d a r l i n g J o Isn't that basically what she's saying?

[@JDoe-gf5oz]

@d a r l i n g J o He wasn't in blackface.

[@JDoe-gf5oz]

@d a r l i n g J o Dark blue/green makeup isn't black, and he was made up to look like a fantasy monster. Blackface is black makeup with exaggerated lips, designed to be a mocking parody of so-called black features. Very different things.

[@bsummers9759]

I watched this show on a streaming service after a friend recommended it. In other episodes they ref this ep but I didn’t realize and was so confused and felt like I missed something. Peacock now has the full series.

[@kanyewest4917]

It’s been so long since the filming of the show! How does she look younger?!

[@SpottedSharks]

Yvette nailed it. Great episode. Fortunately, I bought S2 so I still have it available to me. Oh, and I thought Chang's costume was a deep purple, not black.

[@mikecif4123]

I can't wait to see Yvette Nichole Brown in the community movie.

[@bootwhistle]

The D&D episode was the first episode of Community I watched and got me into the show. It's mindbendingly idiotic that it got pulled

[@ScarfboyMrReese]

This was the first episode of Community I ever saw (it was shared by HISHE on their sight). It's the reason I got into the show. I've watched the whole series probably half a dozen times now. It's my favorite Sitcom. Sad that the episode isn't included with the rest of the series on Netflix. It's the episode I've now seen the least amount of times because of that. (I wish they could just include this disclaimer by Yvette Nichole Brown at the beginning of the episode and repost it.)

[@AlsoCuteAndFLUFFY]

this episode being pulled to appease the one in 50 people that might have been offended (for nothing) and in the process depriving viewers the overarching message of looking after those who are being bullied and bringing them back from the brink of doing something horrific to themselves made me so disappointment in humanity.

[@Executordee]

It was the first episode to get me on the series. Hope it’s available when box sets come out.

[@TtotheCizzel]

Shes a hero for saying this. Probably the best episode of the whole show

[@jacobyspurnger8488]

I was just talking about this a few days ago. My favorite episode in the series, I was so sad that they pulled it for the 30 or so seconds that could have been cut.

[@wclark3196]

Or just told people to grow the fuck up.

[@heathergaston436]

CUT?!?! Hell, no!!! There is nothing wrong with any part of it, & no one should be cutting up someone else's art in order to appease the ignorant & lazy.

[@JohnHudert1]

It would be like taking the N-word out of To Kill a Mockingbird … And it’s just as stupid for people who don’t like racism to try to ban either that episode or that book - if you don’t like racism you should get people to WATCH that episode & READ that book which both FIGHT racism through teaching people.

[@astrophel87]

This was the first episode that I ever watched, and it's what made me want to keep watching community. I really hope they bring it back!!!

[@Redstar2613]

It was also Neil's introduction, so someone not seeing that episode might be a little confused when he shows up again. They even mention playing Dungeons and Dragons.

[@CrustaceanQueen]

the D&D episode was honestly the most hilarious of season 2, all of it is gold

[@allenvasher5358]

It was a great episode, & I agree they covered the whole thing in the episode. Luckily I bought all the DVDs.

[@TheKOzality]

It's great to hear her take on this. From my perspective, it seemed like such an overcorrection to remove this episode and not having it available does more harm than good if the intent is to talk about diversity, hate crimes, etc. The whole episode centers around bullying, mental health, and how people/your community (pun intended) can help each other.

[@_fantomas]

As a fan of DND and community I was so disappointed that I’ve been unable to find the episode on any streaming services or anywhere else online. I just recently found season 2 at a thrift store and I’m so excited to finally watch this episode!

[@malalford]

It was only killed by Netflix. They're losing the whole series at the end of the month. (April '24)That episode is still available on "Stan" in Australia.

[@faithhurst-bilinski7340]

It is such a shame that people don’t even consider context before making decisions. This episode was great and Neil finding out the what he did and Jeff having to face himself were so well done.

[@StarkMaximum]

Also that joke when Shirley calls the drow makeup a hate crime was EXTREMELY funny. It was a perfect moment where they teed it up for Yvette and she knocked it out of the park. I did go and watch that episode recently as a DnD fan who got into Community only recently, and it is a great episode. I understand why they might get a little cagey about it and overcorrect about it but I think they actually managed to do it in a pretty funny way, which is really rare. It also helps that it wasn't the focus of the episode, it was just a side joke. The thrust of the episode, as it so frequently is, is Pierce being an asshole.

[@JDoe-gf5oz]

There was an episode around the same time where she assumes Troy can't swim because he's black and he calls her a racist. If someone wanted to be petty they could probably find reasons to pull half the show.

[@jordanclark219]

They removed this episode but kept literal, actual racist White Face Abed and Brown Face Pierce episodes. It just shows the dissonance of “racial sensitivity”

[@timnor4803]

She explained that perfectly

[@travismathis3279]

I literally went out and bought the season on DVD because it's one of my favorite episodes period

[@darienodette]

The queen has spoken 👑

[@1031985]

One of my favorite episodes, and it absolutely did NOT deserve to be pulled. It was far from being a blackface, nor was it ever the intention. Drow are a species in D&D.

[@ben66562]

Well it wasn't that far from black face lol and it was for sure the intention for it to be misconstrued. But within the show. By yvette's character. Like she said, the joke is that chang went all in and spent hours painting his entire skin tar black for this occasion without thinking for a second how it would look to people who don't play this game. And then he gets killed off anyways within the first minutes of the game. Exiting in the most over the top and borderline offensive makeup. So the joke is clearly meant to be him. not black people.

[@1031985]

@@ben66562 Yes BUT he immediately corrects her in the episode by explaining that he’s a drow and blah blah blah. Like she said in the interview - they bother to EXPLAIN it in the episode for those who are not familiar with D&D.

[@Imagination-In-A-Box]

Wow she lost so much weight, also love that she is in agreement that the D&D episode had no reason to be removed.

[@BreezyFoSheezy69]

Thank God I've got the complete series on Bluray! 6 seasons and a movie!!!

[@mblehar]

I'm currently doing a Community re-watch, and I didn't realize how many times they referenced this specific episode in later episodes. It's a massive shame that this episode was removed