'Cops' canceled by Paramount Network amid George Floyd protests

Days after the season 33 premiere of the reality TV show "Cops" was removed from its schedule, Paramount Network has canceled the series.

It was reported on Friday that the show had been removed from the TV networks’ website.

"'Cops' is not on the Paramount Network and we don't have any current or future plans for it to return," a Paramount Network spokesperson said in a statement to Variety.

RELATED: 'Cops,' 'Live PD' off air amid police brutality protests

“Cops” was initially pulled from Paramount in the wake of national and global protests against racism and police brutality following the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Both were killed by police in Minnesota and Louisville, Kentucky, respectively.

One of the earliest forms of reality TV, “Cops” premiered in 1989 on Fox, where it aired for 25 seasons before it was canceled in 2013. That same year, Spike TV picked it up and has continued airing it for seven seasons through its rebrand as Paramount Network.

"Cops" continues to air in repeats on WGN America. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the network commitment to the show expires at the end of the month and it does not plan to renew it. The show is also on the streaming service Pluto TV, which is owned by Paramount Network's parent company ViacomCBS.

Last week, as Paramount Network pulled “Cops,” A&E decided not to run new episodes of “Live PD” on Friday and Saturday, airing the firefighter, paramedic and emergency medical technician spin-off “Live Rescue” instead in wake of protests.

“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.

There is no official word on when new episodes of “Live PD” will air.

In 2019, "Cops" was the subject of a podcast called "Running from Cops." Hosted by Dan Taberski, the series examined how officers have at times coerced subjects into signing releases in order to be in the show. It also examined the involvement of production in allowing police officers to edit and remove things from the show that may negatively portray them, according to Variety.