According to a report by the New York Post, Warner Bros Television Group quietly ended its multi-year contract with Black Lives Matter co-founder and former leader Patrisse Cullors last year, with no material produced.
The deal, signed in 2020, was a multi-year, multi-platform agreement in which Cullors would produce original content, including scripted comedies and dramas, animated shows, and documentary series focusing on black stories. The content would go out on the distributor's broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms. However, the deal expired at the end of October 2022, and no-shows were produced.
Cullors had previously mentioned in an interview that she was working on material for Warner Bros, including documentaries focused on reparations and social mobility of black Americans and a scripted program on marijuana.
However, Cullors stepped down from the organization in May 2021 after a real-estate scandal emerged, revealing that she spent $3.2 million on four homes in Georgia and California. Soon after, more reports emerged of Black Lives Matter leadership using company funds for personal luxury.
Cullors claimed she was stepping down to focus on her book and TV deal. However, in April 2022, Cullors said that 990 tax forms required for charities were "triggering" and were being "weaponized" against organizations like hers. The IRS 990 is a routine document charities must fill out annually to disclose their financial activities.
The deal's value was not disclosed when Variety first reported it in 2020the agreement aimed to produce content focusing on black stories, including documentaries and scripted programs. However, the deal's expiration in October 2022, with no-shows produced, has raised questions about the effectiveness of the partnership between Warner Bros and Cullors.
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