A mass shooting scene in FX’sAmerican Horror Story: Cult has been edited out of this coming Tuesday’s episode saysAHS co-creator Ryan Murphy. The decision was made after the tragic events last Sunday in Las Vegas when a man opened fire on a crowd of over 20,000 concert goers, killing 59 innocent people and wounding over 500 more. The horrible event has led to some changes in the entertainment world as security beefed up considerably for the Austin City Limits Music Festival and Marvel pulledThe Punisherpanel from New York Comic-Con over the weekend as a response to the massacre.
Deadline reports that during the New Yorker Fest panel on Saturday, series producer Ryan Murphy confirmed that a scene containing a deadly mass shooting on this Tuesday’s episode ofAmerican Horror Story: Culthas been edited to be less graphic. The scene inMurphy’s horror anthologywas filmed prior to the Las Vegas shooting and has just been edited. The producer said, “I just made the decision that I’m going to have all of that violence be shown for the most part off camera.” Murphy admitted that he was unsure of how to handle the episode in the wake of the tragedy.
Ultimately, Ryan Murphy and the rest of the crew ofAmerican Horror Story: Cultgrappled with the decision to keep the scene as is or edit it. Murphy explains.
“Should you air it? Should you not air it? How do you be sensitive? My point of view was I believe I have the right to air it, but I also believe in victims' rights, and I believe that now is probably not the week to have somethingexplosive or incendiaryin the culture because someone who was affected might watch that and it could trigger something or make them feel upset.”
The producers decided that it would be best if they edited the scene and had the violence take place off camera. The decision is for the best at this point in time and Ryan Murphy went on to talk about the often-overlooked rights of the victims. Murphy had this to say.
“So, our decision was to re-edit it and I felt that that was the right move. Nobody ever talks about victims' rights. That’s sort of a weird emotional discussion that’s never bridged… But I felt great sympathy for people who were affected, certainly, and family members and loved ones and people who are upset about the way the world is.”
Ryan Murphy clarified that the scene was originally intended to be “an obvious anti-gun warning about society.” While calls for gun safety measures have ramped up in response to the Las Vegas shooting, Murphy suggested that his main priority was to be sensitive to “victim’s rights” at this current time. While many are battling over gun control in the United States, not many are taking a stand for the victims, so Murphy’s stance is a refreshing one.
American Horror Story: Cultis the latest show to edit or pull scenes in the wake of tragic events. In April of 2013, an episode of NBC’sHannibalwas completely pulled from the schedule after the tragic Sandy Hook shooting.Hannibalcreator, Bryan Fuller, worried that many would think that he was promoting violence against children.American Horror Story: Cultwill air this Tuesday on FX with the edited mass shooting scene. Check outDeadlinefor more of Ryan Murphy’s decision to edit the scene.
