Nickelodeon slammed for 'scaring' kids after it goes off air for 8 minutes and 46 seconds to honor George Floyd
Nickelodeon was one of several television networks who showed their support for George Floyd, an African-American man who was killed in Minneapolis on Memorial Day in the custody of a police officer.
In a moment of solidarity, Nickelodeon, along with other networks like Comedy Central, BET, and VH1, paused its scheduled programming for exactly 8 minutes and 46 seconds. The number has symbolic significance since it represents the exact amount of time Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck even while he begged and pleaded to be let go because he could not breathe. Floyd eventually lost consciousness and became unresponsive, and was declared dead a short time later.
"Nickelodeon is going off the air for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in support of justice, equality, and human rights," the popular children's network announced on Instagram on Monday, June 1, just ahead of the blackout in programming at 6 p.m. EST.
At the scheduled time, the network's screen turned orange and its "Declaration of Kids' Rights' played across viewers' screens. "You have the right to be seen, heard, and respected as a citizen of the world," a statement read. "You have the right to a world that is peaceful."
"You have the right to be treated with equality, regardless of the color of your skin," it continued. "You have the right to be protected from harm, injustice, and hatred. You have the right to an education that prepares you to run the world. You have the right to your opinions and feelings, even if others don't agree with them."
Some parents weren't too happy with the move and said a children's network was not the right platform to send such a political message.
"This is not the right platform for this at all," one user commented on Facebook. "The average age of children that watch your channel are under 12 and if anything all your doing is scaring children and that is just wrong."
Nickelodeon responded to that comment and pointed out, "Unfortunately, some kids live in fear every day. It's our job to use our platform to make sure their voices are heard and their stories are told."
However, many were supportive of the network's decision to speak out against police brutality. "Growing up, they were pivotal in mine, and a whole generations development as children and adolescents," one user wrote. "In 2020, they have proven that they aren't afraid to side publicly what is right."
"You are not upset that #Nickelodeon scared your kid (far scarier shit on tv) you are upset your kid is now asking questions you are not equipped or comfortable answering. Imagine for a second the hard conversations black mothers have with their children," another said. "Imagine the privilege of your child being scared of some words on a Nickelodeon screen as opposed to black children being afraid of getting murdered for nothing daily," a third posted. Chauvin has been arrested and charged with third-degree murder and assault in connection to Floyd's death. The three remaining officers involved in the incident have been fired but remain free.