Politicians in the United Kingdom have responded to Josh O'Connor's reaction over calls to put a disclaimer on the Netflix series The Crown, where he plays the role of Prince Charles.
O'Connor rebuked U.K. Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, for his intervention when he said that The Crown needs a disclaimer because viewers might take the stories as the truth. However, the actor thinks that Dowden's suggestion was "outrageous" because the show's viewers could distinguish what's fictionalized or dramatized. As a Culture Secretary, the actor also said that Dowden should be more supportive of the struggling arts industry in this COVID-19 crisis.
But former Education Secretary Damian Hinds and Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee Chairman Julian Knight said that O'Connor's comments are more outrageous for trying to prevent Dowden from holding Netflix accountable. Hinds further said that the royal drama is based on real-life with many recognizable events and people. Thus, it's "certainly not pure fiction."
The Member of Parliament (MP) also said that there should be a review of the "regulatory framework" of streaming and video-on-demand services because more people are accessing this platform during these times. He suggested that Netflix, which has a company based in Holland and has a major presence in the U.K., should be reviewed by the Office of Communications (OfCom), the regulatory board for broadcasting and telecommunications.
But Netflix has issued a statement in early December in response to Dowden's call for a disclaimer, citing it will do no such thing. The streaming platform said that The Crown was always presented as a drama and a work of fiction, although "broadly based on historical events."
The Crown has been on the air since 2015, but its current fourth season has attracted more criticism and controversy because of its depiction of Prince Charles and Princess Diana's marriage. Friends of the Prince of Wales said that the show has unfairly portrayed the future King of the United Kingdom as it rehashed his affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles, who is now his second wife.
Even the brother of Princess Diana, Earl Charles Spencer, said that The Crown needs a disclaimer, so viewers learning about the royal family for the first time won't think that the events unfolding on the show are what actually happened. The Crown Princess Margaret actress Helena Bonham Carter also supports the same call since she believes the show has a moral responsibility.
On the other hand, Queen Elizabeth actress Olivia Colman said that she always thought their viewers know that the dialogues and scenarios behind closed doors have been made up. She said that this should be obvious from the start but then realized that it might not be so obvious to some viewers, after all, based on the recent criticisms.
