ViacomCBS’ Paramount Network has said they will no longer air Cops. This comes after the network pulled episodes of the series recently amid police brutality protests across the nation and calls to defund and abolish the police. The controversial series has long been criticized for the way it glorifies police aggression.

“Cops is not on the Paramount Network and we don’t have any current or future plans for it to return,” said a network spokesperson in a statement.

Paramount Network and its predecessor, Spike TV, ran the show since 2013 after it ended at Fox after 25 seasons. Paramount Network also has syndication rights. Prior episodes of the series still air on WGN America as well as the streaming service Pluto TV, which is now owned by ViacomCBS. Per The Hollywood Reporter, WGN America doesn’t plan to renew its deal for the show.

The 33rd season of Cops was set to premiere this week, but no episode of the show has aired this month as protests continue after the police murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others.

The show Live PD has also been pulled off the schedule by A&E and Discovery’s ID channel has also pulled their series, Body Cam. No word yet if these two shows will be officially canceled.  

 

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Photo: Paramount Network