AMC Networks has recently implemented a trigger warning for the celebrated 1990 mob movie “Goodfellas,” a move that has sparked debate among viewers and industry professionals alike. This classic film, directed by Martin Scorsese and hailed as one of the finest in its genre, now carries a disclaimer alerting viewers to potentially offensive content.
The new warning, displayed at the start of the movie on AMC, reads: “This film includes language and/or cultural stereotypes that are inconsistent with today’s standards of inclusion and tolerance and may offend some viewers.” This adjustment reflects a broader trend among media organizations reassessing their content in light of contemporary standards.
AMC’s decision to affix this warning reportedly originated during the widespread social justice movements of 2020, such as Black Lives Matter, when many businesses were reevaluating their content to ensure it did not offend various communities. An AMC representative explained, “We began adding advisories in front of certain films that include racial or cultural references that some viewers might find offensive.”
Notably, this warning is exclusive to “Goodfellas” and does not extend to other mob films like “The Godfather,” which continues to be broadcast with a more standard viewer discretion notice addressing nudity, strong language, and violence.
The move has drawn criticism from some quarters. Bo Ditel, a former NYPD officer who appeared in “Goodfellas,” voiced his disapproval, stating, “Political correctness has stripped everything away. Life back then wasn’t sanitized. You can’t rewrite history. To tell true history, it must be presented as it was.”
Michael Franzese, a former captain of the Colombo crime family, also found the warning unnecessary. “We don’t need anyone protecting mobsters. It’s absurd,” he remarked.
“Goodfellas,” starring Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, and Joe Pesci, is renowned for its gritty portrayal of mob life. Pesci’s performance as the volatile Tommy DeVito earned him an Academy Award. In 2000, the film was recognized for its cultural impact by the United States Library of Congress, which selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.
This development at AMC highlights the ongoing conversation about how historical content should be managed in an era that values inclusion and tolerance, reflecting broader societal shifts in the interpretation and presentation of cultural works.
