An “Extended Orgy” Scene Got Dr. Dre’s Show Canceled at Apple

Apple may be trying to compete with the likes of Netflix and Hulu in the streaming race, but it hopes to win the day with family-friendly content, not violence and nudity. According to a new report from the Wall Street Journal, Apple CEO Tim Cook has been rejecting explicit series right and left, including a show based on the life and career of music producer Dr. Dre. The series, titled Vital Signs, was reportedly axed because it features “characters doing lines of cocaine,” lots of guns, and even “an extended orgy in a mansion.”

The WSJ reports that Cook has taken an active role in directing Apple’s original streaming content, and he personally rejected Vital Signs, citing it as “too violent.” In an attempt to differentiate Apple’s service from Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video, Cook is pushing the up-and-coming service toward safer content, and that means “extended orgies in mansions” won’t make it onto the platform. But keeping things family-friendly serves the company’s bottom-line, as well: by avoiding suggestive content altogether, Apple hopes to maintain any and all potential customers. “With Apple, you can say, ‘I’m going to punish them by not buying the phone or computer,'” said former NBC and Fox exec Person Beckman.

Vital Signs isn’t the only series that has been rejected for being too edgy. In recent months, Apple has backed away from a Whitney Cummings series about the #MeToo movement (Cook believes the topic is too “sensitive”). The company has also asked existing series, including the highly-anticipated Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston drama, to make changes that reflect the platform’s wholesome goals. Witherspoon and Aniston’s series was toned down after the company “took exception to some of the humor proposed,” and M. Night Shyamalan was reportedly asked to “eliminate the crucifixes” in certain shots for fear of alienating religious customers.

Apple has made it clear to directors and producers that they are not looking for Netflix-style nudity and violence. So, what are they looking for? If Cook continues to spearhead the initiative, Apple’s streaming service will likely resemble a cable network, with safe, palatable fare similar to Madam Secretary and Friday Night Lights — two of Cook’s favorites, of course.