The decision by HBO/MAX to cancel a queer pirate show, Our Flag Means Death, ahead of pride month has drawn equal measures of anger and frustration from fans.
#DontStreamOnMax has been trending on X (formerly known as Twitter) as viewers who embraced the streaming giant’s Our Flag Means Death, a television program widely considered a queer show, lamented it is no more.
Audiences are turning their backs on the streaming service, alleging the cult show was sacrificed because of its queer content, in spite of the fact that it has proven to be a hit with fans, the Daily Caller reports.
One fan wrote on X, “It was so refreshing to have a lighthearted queer show that appealed to older people… #OurFlagMeansDeath is so incredibly unique, but that’s a quality that HBO/Max apparently no longer values #DontStreamOnMax.”
It was so refreshing to have a lighthearted queer show that appealed to older people… #OurFlagMeansDeath is so incredibly unique, but that’s a quality that HBO/Max apparently no longer values 👎 #DontStreamOnMax pic.twitter.com/P6ZBZQo2V9
— AJ #LongLiveOFMD (@ofmdawae) June 3, 2024
A fan-led group, Adopt Our Crew, also called out to express their personal reasons for backing the boycott.
June the 3rd...an excellent day to bring back #DontStreamOnMax 👀 pic.twitter.com/D6xne5fM8G
— Adopt Our Crew | #AdoptOurCrew (@adoptourcrew) June 2, 2024
“I #DontStreamOnMax because they talk ‘quality’ yet cancel their most critically acclaimed, diverse shows in favour of lower performing shows with big IPs. HBO was once a prestigious channel, now it’s leading the death of television,” one user wrote.
I #DontStreamOnMax because they talk “quality” yet cancel their most critically acclaimed, diverse shows in favour of lower performing shows with big IPs. HBO was once a prestigious channel, now it’s leading the death of television. #FireDavidZaslav #OurFlagMeansDeath pic.twitter.com/9LCG3DZuzw
— Lucy 🏴☠️❤️🍉 #SaveOFMD (@lucyrosebutler) June 3, 2024
Fans brought up the fact that Warner Bros. Discovery CEO, David Zaslav, had received a pay rise of $49.7 million in 2023 and alleged that the executive was terminating beloved shows to further his personal interests, Dextero reported.
They made their point on social media about the confluence of events over CEO pay and royalty demands.
I #DontStreamOnMax because they strategically cancel shows after their 2nd season to avoid paying royalties, shelve completed works for tax write-offs, and reversed a long, rich history of pushing the creative envelope to producing cheap, unscripted slop for homophobic white men. pic.twitter.com/ar8yua1rzM
— SharpenYerSword (@SharpenYerSword) June 3, 2024
Earlier this year, Our Flag Means Death was originally axed by HBO’s streaming service Max, sharing the same fate as shows including Julia and Warrior, which has been given a new lease of life on Netflix.
Despite fans hitting social media to complain, no word has yet been issued from HBO to indicate they are successful in getting the show another season.
