A Netflix web page for the 1939 film "Gone with the Wind" has circulated widely online after users noticed a description calling the movie “known for its racism” and encouraging viewers to search “Black Lives Matter.” The title does not appear to be available to stream on Netflix in the United States.
Netflix’s public landing page for "Gone with the Wind" includes a short description that reads: “A 1939 American Civil War epic known for its racism. To learn more about Black lives in America, search ‘Black Lives Matter.’”
Screenshots of the description spread on social media this week. Elon Musk replied to one post about the wording, writing: “Needs to change.”
The film is based on Margaret Mitchell’s 1936 novel of the same name. It won multiple Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and Hattie McDaniel became the first Black performer to win an Academy Award for her role as Mammy.
The renewed debate echoes earlier controversies over how classic films with racist stereotypes are presented on modern platforms. In June 2020, HBO Max temporarily removed "Gone with the Wind" and said it would return with added context about the film’s racist depictions; it later restored the movie with an introduction providing historical framing.
Separately, in 2023, publisher Pan Macmillan added an introductory note to some editions of Mitchell’s novel warning readers about racist and stereotypical material while stating that the original text remained unchanged.