After HBO Max removed Gone With The Wind from it's library until proper historical context could be added, Meghan McCain of The View was quite unhappy.
But, her co-host Sunny Hostin let her know what is actually important.
Meghan foreshadowed the conflict on Twitter, where she said she couldn't wait to dig into the movie's removal with Oscar-winning cohost Whoopi Goldberg.
I'm going to pitch the Gone With The Wind being pulled from HBO as a hot topic tomorrow (deleted tweet). I am privileged to work with an academy award winning actress and I am actually more interested in a discussion with her about it than on twitter. Have a good night everyone!
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) June 10, 2020
On The View, Goldberg said she thought the movie deserved to be seen.
But added only if it was made clear to audiences that the historical values and inaccuracies depicted in the film were very different from today's.
Taking something down until you can provide educational context isn't censoring. It's what Republicans want done with Confederate statues. At least so they say.
— RadicalQueerIre (@RadicalQueerIre) June 10, 2020
Sunny Hostin, meanwhile, thought there were far more important things to be talking about, saying:
"Well, we have had this discussion many times before, and, you know, my biggest concern right now isn't the availability of 'Gone With the Wind' on HBO."
This should not even be a 'hot topic.' If your biggest problem is not having 'Gone With The Wind' on HBO then I feel sorry for you. FFS I'm sure Turner Classic movies has it on demand
— Molly McGrath (@mlmwb7) June 10, 2020
While Hostin agreed that the movie glorifies a horrifying period of history and paints White supremacists as heroes, she regretted how much time important voices were spending on this trivial issue.
"Nobody is in favor of censorship, and someone like Megyn Kelly spent all morning tweeting about this."
"I would like to see that same energy from people on the right rather than talking about this issue, talking about the voter suppression that happened yesterday in Georgia, talking about the 112,000 Americans that are still dead from [the virus]."
Why don't you talk about Georgia voting suppression instead gone with the wind it's an old movie who cares!
— ROSIE LISA MONDAY MORNING GIRL (@seabay04) June 10, 2020
She concluded:
"I think this is much ado about nothing. I think this is a big distraction, and again, it's a discussion we have had so many times before."
pic.twitter.com/OaPpmHVk5W
— twittewy twitt (@dopre) June 10, 2020
McCain apologized for bringing up the topic.
"I mean, I guess I should apologize that we're doing this topic because it was my doing."
"I was on Twitter last night, and it was a conversation that's been trending, and I actually just thought it would be interesting to talk to you, Whoopi [Goldberg], because you're an Academy Award winner, I believe only the second Black Academy Award winner after Hattie McDaniel who won an Oscar, and it's important to talk about censorship in film and books right now because we need to talk about what's appropriate and what's not."
Tried watching @TheView again. It's truly amazing how quickly Meghan McCain can make things about her. "It's my fault we are discussing Gone With The Wind. I thought it would make an interesting subject. It's my fault. I'm pregnant. What will I tell my future child?" Ugh 🤮
— Biden/Harris 2020 #SayHisName #GeorgeFloyd #BLM (@haleakela19) June 10, 2020
Of course, Meghan couldn't help but undercut the sincerity of her apology by playing the victim just a bit.
"I know this seems like a trite and stupid conversation to some of you, but I was interested in it. So it's my fault this is a topic today."
06 10 2020 11 14 06youtu.be
Twitter agreed with Hostin's point that there were, ultimately, much more important things to be talking about.
Selective outrage is so hot right now.
— Phillip Banks (@uncle_chilll) June 10, 2020
Black people dying and Republicans are worried about Gone With the Wind and Cop shows...if that doesn't tell you everything you need to know!
— AntiTrump🇺🇸ProAmerica (@D4thewin) June 11, 2020
Get her, Sunny! #tw https://t.co/QQpbgE4tma
— Vince McNeil Jr. (@vincemcneiljr) June 11, 2020
Maybe get angry about the voter suppression happening in Georgia and pitch a rant about that and towards Kemp? 🤷♀️
Who gives a damn about pulling a movie that romanticizes slavery and that whole very ugly era of American history 🙄 pic.twitter.com/u7p2iObazC
— WitterArmy (@WitterArmy) June 10, 2020
It's important to remember what really matters.
A movie being temporarily removed from a streaming service is much less notable than real lives being lost to a global pandemic and racial bias in law enforcement.