Netflix has issued a disclaimer to its marketing of its hit show The Crown following criticism of 'inaccuracies' from actor Dame Judi Dench and ex-Prime Minister Sir John Major. The streaming giant now states the series' page and under its YouTube trailer that is a 'fictional dramatisation' that has been 'inspired by real-life events'.
The statement reads: "Inspired by real events, this fictional dramatisation tells the story of Queen Elizabeth II and the political and personal events that shaped her reign." When using the platform on TV or mobile however, the disclaimer doesn't appear.
The move comes after Netflix originally reportedly refused adding a factual disclaimer to its hit series following criticism from the likes of actor Dame Judi Dunch, who recently slammed the show for its 'crude sensationalism', the Mirror reports.
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Calling for a disclaimer to be put on every episode, the Hollywood actress said the "fictionalised drama" poses a risk due to "a significant number of viewers" like to take its events as actual historical truth.
In a letter to The Times, Dame Judi wrote: "Wounding suggestions apparently contained in the new series" will prove "damaging" to the monarchy and cannot go unchallenged." She continued: "Sir John Major is not alone in his concerns that the latest series of The Crown will present an inaccurate and hurtful account of history (News, Oct 17).
"Indeed, the closer the drama comes to our present times, the more freely it seems willing to blur the lines between historical accuracy and crude sensationalism. While many will recognise The Crown for the brilliant but fictionalised account of events that it is, I fear that a significant number of viewers, particularly overseas, may take its version of history as being wholly true."
Another who recently complained about the show is former Prime Minister Sir John Major, who is played by Jonny Lee Miller. He particularly slammed the scenes of Prince Charles trying to oust the Queen, describing them as 'a barrel load of nonsense.'
Speaking to The Telegraph earlier this month, a source said Prince William feels The Crown producers are using the Martin Bashir interview and the “dramatisation of it for financial gain”. However, only snippets of the interview will be shown.
Insiders told The Sun Netflix 'decided showing anything extensive could provoke a backlash.' The streaming platform denied the claims. It said the series' title page describes it as fictionalised drama but added it will not be placing warnings to individual episodes.
A spokeswoman for Netflix said: “The episodes that dramatise events surrounding the Panorama interview remain unchanged.”
After receiving initial backlash from John Major, a spokeswoman for The Crown said: “The Crown has always been presented as a drama based on historical events. Series five is a fictional dramatisation, imagining what could have happened behind closed doors during a significant decade for the royal family – one that has already been scrutinised and well-documented by journalists, biographers and historians.”
The programme’s creator, Peter Morgan, also defended the forthcoming series in an interview with US publication Entertainment Weekly.
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