Keke Palmer Denies ‘GMA’ Canceled ‘Strahan, Sara & Keke’ Due to BLM Support

Keke Palmer is opening up about the cancellation of Strahan, Sara & Keke, the third hour of Good Morning America. In a lengthy Instagram post, the actress and TV personality dismissed rumors that the show was canceled because of her vocal support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Palmer said that the social media rumors are an example of “fear mongering” and added, “If anything my speaking out showed the corporations I work with how important my voice is and anyone that has a POV.”

Strahan, Sara & Keke has been off the air since March, when ABC replaced it with breaking COVID-19 coverage. In early July, Page Six reported that the GMA hour has officially been canceled and will be replaced with a new show, What You Need to Know. ABC has yet to confirm the cancellation, but sources say that SSK staffers have already been transitioned to the new GMA3 hour.

Decider has reached out to ABC for comment, but did not hear back by the time of publication.

In the weeks since Page Six reported the cancellation, rumors have swirled on social media that ABC terminated the show due to Palmer’s support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Over the weekend, the host finally addressed those rumors and attempted to clear the air. “I hate the narrative that if you speak your mind as a black person that you will in some way be punished,” she wrote on Instagram. “I have seen this going around and at first I ignored but in this climate I realized this is a dangerous message to send to our generation and the generation coming up.”

“The reality is I was never signed to SSK as one would a seasonal show,” continued Palmer. “This business is dynamic and instead of thinking of me as a ‘series regular’ see me see me as a brand that works with the corporation Disney/ABC News and this particular show I was on is no longer.”

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I want to speak on this simply because I hate the narrative that if you speak your mind as a black person that you will in some way be punished. I have seen this going around and at first I ignored but in this climate I realized this is a dangerous message to send to our generation and the generation coming up. If anything my speaking out showed the corporations I work with how important my voice is and anyone that has a POV. The reality is I was never signed to “SSK” as one would a seasonal show. This business is dynamic and instead of thinking of me as a “series regular” see me see me as a brand that works with the corporation Disney/ABC News and this particular show I was on is no longer. That does not mean the relationship I have with them dies, that means it evolves. I hate talking about business because it can seem a bit weird and gets quite technical lol. But when I see such fear mongering comments I want to speak out so that no one ever feels or thinks that speaking out will cost them their job! I’m sure it can and has before, but let’s also recognize when it has not. That way more of us with our own minds speak out against any injustices we see. Trust me, walking in my truth has always made my blessings OVERFLOW and connect to those that are like minded and not with those that are not. Do not believe this lie. Stay courageous and stay true because GOD HAS YOU ALWAYS ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

A post shared by BIG BOSS 🔑🔑 (@keke) on Jul 18, 2020 at 12:40pm PDT

Palmer added that while people have likely lost their jobs for “speaking out” against racism, that is not what happened with SSK. “I want to speak out so that no one ever feels or thinks that speaking out will cost them their job! I’m sure it can and has before, but let’s also recognize when it has not,” she wrote. “That way more of us with our own minds speak out against any injustices we see.”

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