A&E and Paramount Networks, the TV networks that air “Live PD” and “Cops,” respectively, are no longer airing the police-themed reality TV shows.
Variety reported that A&E decided not to run new episodes of "Live PD" on Friday and Saturday and Paramount Network has pulled the season 33 premiere of "Cops," which was set for Monday.
The decision comes as people nationwide continue to protest against police brutality and racism in wake of the death of George Floyd.
Floyd died as Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kept his knee on his neck for more than eight minutes. In the cellphone video of the incident, Floyd can be heard pleading that he could not breathe.
“Out of respect for the families of George Floyd and others who have lost their lives, in consultation with the departments we follow, and in consideration for the safety of all involved, we have made the decision not to broadcast ‘Live PD’ this weekend,” A&E said in a statement.
The network will air episodes of “Live Rescue,” a spin-off of “Live PD” that features firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians over the weekend instead.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, new episodes of "Live PD" remain scheduled for June 12 and 13.
"Cops" is no longer anywhere on the networks' website, including past seasons. Paramount Network confirmed to IndieWire that CBSViacom, the parent company of Paramount Networks, has no plans to bring it back. It has been off the air since June 1. The network has begun moving away from reality TV.
Earlier in the week, CBSViacom ran eight minutes and 46 seconds of silence in honor of George Floyd -- the time of silence was the amount of time Chauvin had his knee on Floyd’s neck before he died.
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