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Tags: wheel of fortune | slaves

'Wheel of Fortune': Slaves Seen as Part of Show's 'Southern Charm'

'Wheel of Fortune': Slaves Seen as Part of Show's 'Southern Charm'
Plantation museum workers were seen as slaves on "Wheel of Fortune"'s backdrop for Southern Charm Week. (Screen grab via Twitter/@joshitiola)

By    |   Friday, 16 June 2017 06:05 PM EDT

"Wheel of Fortune" sparked backlash with an image that appeared to depict slaves featured as a backdrop during its "Southern Charm Week."

The controversial image was called out in a post by Twitter user Joshua Itiola, who questioned why the game show would include such a photo, the New York Daily News reported.

Executive producer Harry Friedman expressed regret and said the photo would be replaced.

"We regret the use of this background image, and we will be replacing it moving forward on any rebroadcast," he said in a statement to the Daily News.

The publication reported that the photo was taken in 2005 at the Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie, Louisiana, and a spokeswoman said the venue does not have actors portraying slaves but rather tour guides of all skin colors that wear period clothing.

"Southern Charm Week" originally aired in March, Raw Story noted.

Twitter users debated the issue.

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TheWire
"Wheel of Fortune" sparked backlash with an image that appeared to depict slaves featured as a backdrop during its "Southern Charm Week."
wheel of fortune, slaves
386
2017-05-16
Friday, 16 June 2017 06:05 PM
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