Hulu Pushes ‘Love, Victor’ and ‘Taste the Nation’ to Observe Juneteenth

Two new Hulu originals are getting earlier premiere dates. Both Love, Victor and Taste the Nation were scheduled to premiere June 19, but are being pushed in observance of Juneteenth, Hulu announced today.

Love, Victor will now premiere June 17, while Taste the Nation will premiere June 18. Hulu is changing the premiere dates out of respect for the holiday, the company stated today.

“This June 19 — Juneteenth — will mark 155 years since slavery was abolished in the United States,” Hulu said in a statement. “This date represents an important turning point for our nation and for human rights, and we believe that now, more than ever, it deserves to have its own day in the spotlight.”

“We are all part of the fight against injustice,” Hulu wrote. “We believe that Black lives matter, and support those who are working to build a system based on equality.” The streaming service, which is owned by Disney, referenced the $5 million donation they’re contributing to the NAACP and other nonprofits “to drive positive change.”

Love, Victor is a spinoff series from 2018’s Love, Simon, and takes place in the same universe as the film but features different characters. Michael Cimino stars as Victor, a new student at Creekwood High School, who tackles problems with his family at home, explores his sexuality and tries to navigate life in a different city. The series was originally slated to premiere on Disney+, but reportedly was shifted to Hulu over concerns about the material, which includes alcohol use and marital problems.

Taste the Nation follows Padma Lakshmi as she explores different foods and cultures in America on her own food and travel show. The series will focus on multiple diverse communities across the country and how they connect over food.  Hulu describes Taste the Nation as “a living cookbook made up more from people and culture than recipes.”