Nickelodeon pulls new show after facing backlash for similarity to ‘Hair Love’
The children's series 'Made By Maddie' was originally scheduled to premiere on Sept. 13
Nickelodeon has decided to pull a new series after facing accusations that the popular children’s network was copying Matthew Cherry’s Academy Award-winning short film “Hair Love.”
According to it’s official synopsis, “Made By Maddie,” originally scheduled to premiere on Sept. 13, is an animated series about “a quick-thinking little girl with a big personality and a huge heart, who has a passion for fashion.”
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Despite having a Black little girl as the lead, Twitter users were dismayed by the similarities between Nick’s new offering and “Hair Love.”
Everything about “Maddie” and “Hair Love,” from the physical appearance of the two animated families to even the presence of a gray cat as a pet, gave viewers too much deja vu.
Earlier this week, “Made By Maddie” producers Silvergate Media said not only had they not copied Cherry’s work, company CEO Waheed Alli also pointed out the project was conceived five years ago–two years prior to Cherry launching his 2017 Kickstarter campaign for “Hair Love.”
But given the adverse reaction from many in the show’s key demographic, Nickelodeon has decided to play it safe.
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“‘Made by Maddie’ is a show we acquired several years ago from Silvergate Media, a renowned production company we have previously worked with on other series,” a Nickelodeon spokesperson said Friday in a statement. “Since announcing the show’s premiere date this week, we have been listening closely to the commentary, criticism and concern coming from both viewers and members of the creative community.”
“In response, and out of respect to all voices in the conversation, we are removing the show from our schedule as we garner further insight into the creative journey of the show,” the message continued. “We are grateful to Silvergate Media for all of their work. And we hold Matthew A. Cherry and the wonderful and inspiring ‘Hair Love’ in the highest regard.”
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