​Comedy Central Removes Controversial US Office Episode

Comedy Central has removed a controversial episode of the US version of The Office from TV schedules, Newsweek reports.

According to the outlet, viewers who tuned in for a recent Sunday marathon of The Office on Comedy Central realised that an episode was missing from the listings, with one tweeting at the time: "Is @ComedyCentral really skipping the 'Diversity Day' episode of @theofficetv on their Office marathon today? Or is my guide wrong?"

'Diversity Day' is the second episode of the show's first season - a US reboot of the British mockumentary of the same title.

The narrative involve Steve Carell's Michael Scott forcing employees to take part in a racial diversity seminar, even though it's his behaviour that requires attention - speaking in an exaggerated Indian accent during the session, while also reciting a standup routine about race by comedian Chris Rock.

NBC

However, fans found that after watching the first episode of the season, they were moved straight onto the third.

In fact, it seems to be something that's been happening for a while, with another fan tweeting back in March: "Comedy Central is airing a marathon of The Office starting from the pilot episode and it goes directly from episode 1 to episode 3, skipping DIVERSITY DAY. Ok I get it's definitely bad but so is almost all the humour in the show. Please give me Diversity Day."

Another said in January: "@ComedyCentral is running an Office marathon starting from the pilot, but are skipping Diversity Day, Halloween and Christmas Party."

A fourth also said as far back as August last year: "@ComedyCentral why is Diversity Day not part of tonight's The Office marathon?"

NBC

While Comedy Central has not publicly addressed why the episode has regularly been removed from TV schedules, in the wake of the most recent instance, many people took to Twitter to join in on the debate.

One tweeted: "WTF Comedy Central?? You cannot cancel The Office Diversity Day episode... the whole point is mock the companies that make shitty attempts to boost diversity. I'm so annoyed."

Another person said: "Comedy Central removing the Diversity Day episode [of The] Office from the rotation is so corporate and stupid lol. It's literally poking fun at bad office environments and how culturally ignorant Michael Scott is. He is the joke."

LADbible has reached out to Comedy Central for comment.

Topics: Entertainment, TV and Film, The Office

Jess Hardiman

Jess is a journalist at LADbible who graduated from Manchester University with a degree in Film Studies, English Language and Linguistics - indecisiveness at its finest, right there. She also works for FOODbible and its sister page Seitanists, which are both a safe haven for her to channel a love for homemade pasta, fennel and everything else in between. You can contact Jess at [email protected].

@Jess_Hardiman