Paramount Network Cancels Cops In Wake of George Floyd Protests

A controversial pop culture icon is no more, as long-running reality show Cops has been canceled in the wake of protests against police brutality after the death of George Floyd. THR reports that the cable network has confirmed that they are cancelling the show, which had already been delayed following the protests in the wake of Floyd’s May 25th death for which four Minneapolis police officers have been charged.

“Cops is not on the Paramount Network and we don’t have any current or future plans for it to return,” a network spokesperson told the network. Spike TV had picked up the show in 2013 after it finished up a 25-season run on FOX, and it continued when Spike rebranded to Paramount Network. The 33rd season premiere had been scheduled for Monday but was taken off the schedule due to the rise of protests in support of Black Lives Matter and against police brutality.

Cops was one of the longest-running television programs in the US and was a precursor to the rise of reality television. Its song “Bad Boys” by Inner Circle became an icon of 1990s music and has served as the theme for the Bad Boys franchise. The series earned four Primetime Emmy nominations but has also garnered considerable criticism for the way it depicts police tactics and suspects, from invasion of privacy issues to allegations that police officers would sometimes coerce suspects into signing releases to be filmed for the show. Some police departments also refused to work with the show.

Cops reruns sill air on WGN America and ViacomCBS’ streaming service Pluto TV. Sources told the site that WGN America contract for the show expires at the end of the month and the network doesn’t plan to renew it.