Netflix Pulls ‘W/Bob & David’ Episode Featuring David Cross in Blackface

Netflix has removed an episode of Bob Odenkirk and David Cross‘ comedy series W/Bob & David due to its use of blackface. The removed sketch, titled “Know Your Rights,” features Cross in blackface in an attempt to satirize police brutality. Netflix confirmed to Decider that W/Bob & David Episode 3 has been removed, but did not provide additional details about the decision.

“Know Your Rights” stars Cross as fictional character Gilvin Daughtry, who works for an organization called “Citizens Against Unlawful Abuse.” When Gilvin is stopped by a Black police officer (played by Keegan-Michael Key), he tells viewers that he is about to “show you how to maintain your rights in the face of police harassment.” Despite Gilvin’s repeated attempts to pester him, the officer is polite, and at one point, he even asks if the vlogger needs help.

The sketch concludes with Gilvin, now in blackface, returning to the officer’s traffic stop. A message appears on the bottom of the screen reading, “Every race in America has equal rights,” as Gilvin attempts to elicit a reaction from the officer. When Key’s character waves over a white officer for help, the white cop pepper sprays Gilvin and pulls him out of the car. He tases Gilvin and then pepper sprays him again before the sketch fades to black.

On Monday, Cross tweeted that Netflix, following the lead of other platforms that have pulled sketches containing blackface, would be removing the third episode of W/Bob & David due the bit. “Netflix is going to pull this sketch from With Bob & David because the ridiculous, foolish character I play puts on ‘black face’ at one point,” wrote the actor. “The point was to underscore the absurdity.”

Cross linked to a YouTube clip of the sketch in question, but the video has since been made private. However, “Know Your Rights” is still available to stream elsewhere on YouTube.

While he is not in the sketch, Odenkirk also responded to Netflix’s removal on Twitter. “We considered every choice we made doing our show, and always aimed to make you laugh and think,” he wrote. “Our comedy is always about the human element, never about making a political point.”

W/Bob & David was released in November 2015 as a quasi-revival of Mr. Show with Bob and David. The sketch comedy series originally consisted of four 30-minute episodes, plus an hourlong behind-the-scenes special. The three remaining episodes of W/Bob & David, as well as the special, are currently available to stream on Netflix.

Where to stream W/Bob & David