TV One is offering more details about last week’s cancellation of The DL Hughley Show.
A network executive says host D. L. Hughley was being pulled in too many directions, although it seems trouble between TV One and Hughley had been brewing for some time.
Shamia Holloway, TV One’s director of public relations, said the cancellation was prompted by the actor and comedian’s busy schedule, leaving him little time to focus on his nationally-syndicated radio program. Both TV One and Reach Media, which distributes the radio show, are part of the Urban One, Inc. umbrella.
“The DL Hughley Show on TV One was a great cross platform opportunity, however, balancing the added responsibility required to produce content for both the radio and television shows was not sustainable,” Holloway told Urban Hollywood 411 in a phone interview. “Therefore, D.L. will solely focus on his radio show, which he has hosted for over five years.”
Related Story: ‘The DL Hughley Show’ Ending on TV One After Eight Months
Holloway’s comments followed a tweet from the official TV One account on Thursday, Oct. 31, saying The DL Hughley Show would air its final episode that night, so the comedian could dedicate more time to the radio program.
While he does maintain a busy schedule, other national radio hosts, including Ryan Seacrest and Steve Harvey also hold down multiple jobs.
Reps for Hughley did not immediately respond to requests for comment. However, on the Oct. 28 episode of his late-night show, Hughley said the series would soon be going elsewhere, and “we can finally do what we want.” He tweeted a similar statement Thursday night, and urged fans to “stay tuned.”
Holloway declined to comment on Hughley’s social media post.
The DL Hughley Show debuted in March 2019, and featured celebrity interviews, along with political and social commentary from Hughley and co-host Jasmine Sanders.
Related Story: D.L. Hughley on Politics, Religion and Bringing Something New To Late-Night TV
Fans speculated on social media throughout the weekend that TV One pulled the plug on the program because Hughley was too “woke.”
As an example, they cited the Oct. 28 episode, where Hughley blasted President Trump and CNN host Van Jones for criticizing California Sen. Kamala Harris after the Democratic presidential hopeful announced she was dropping out of a criminal justice reform forum at Benedict College, an HBCU in South Carolina.
On Twitter, Harris expressed concerns that organizers planned to honor the president, and limit the number of students allowed to attend. Harris said she refused to be “complicit in papering over Trump’s record” on race.
Jones, a criminal justice reform advocate, responded with a tweet accusing Harris, a former California attorney general, of “running away” from an important conversation.
In a nearly five-minute commentary Monday night, Hughley tore into Jones.
“Almost any time Van Jones is somewhere and you’re a black person, you’d be wise to be on the other side of it,” he said.
“I have no idea what has happened to this cat, I don’t know what he believes, but he maligned Kamala Harris for refusing to sit in a room and be used for a prop, like he seems to do so eloquently,” Hughley added.
[Watch the video below]
The comedian then said Trump “uses black people for optics,” and described Jones as his shoeshine man.
“You maligned her because she refused to do what you did,” Hughley said. “Shine his shoes.”
Asked if Hughley’s comments about Trump and Jones led to the cancellation of his show, Holloway said no. She added that TV One will continue to work with the comedian.
“We absolutely cannot ignore D.L.’s enormous popularity and positive feedback that we got from his fans,” she stated. “We are exploring various content opportunities with D.L., to deliver coverage of political and social issues on our digital platforms.”
Anyone who is an outspoken positive advocate for the Black community is canceled! We need to own our own TV networks!
Every time we have any black person stand up for our black race of people, they are cancelled. That’s why we no longer have Roland Martin, who’s paying TVOne to be a sellout for the White man’s agenda.. and why are TVOne is not concerned about the message they are sending to our young black kid? Why ?If the kids cannot be incouraged by TVOne to Excell then who? Where are your morals TVOne?
I don’t get it. If TV One is still going to work with him on their digital platform, why can’t they continue to work with him from their visual platform. There was certainly no lack of viewership. Perhaps problems with their racist sponsors?
I looked forward to watching his show… It hasn’t been anything like it since Arsenio….rushing to get everything done by 10:00….. Tvone shame on you….oh but that Fatal Attraction crap is still there ….WHY???…..
I was a fateful watcher and agreed with everything he said. I was proud someone was finally brave enough to allow a person to speak the truth. I’m very disappointed in you TV . Did the man get to you? When will it be our time? Haven’t we suffered enough? Haven’t we given enough?
TVOne I am Very Disappointed! Our Household loved D.L.Hughleys show! He SPOKE ON BEHALF OF US!
SHAME ON YOU
Go show you like you suppose too.. Liberate yourself to freely speak the truth…
Both hands up to you and your courageous, talented crew…We all be looking
out to peep you again…hopefully, sooner than later!…KLM
TV One it is a shame that you would take off a Great Show and the Talented Mr. D.L. Hughley and His Cast off TV One. The Truth hurts and D.L. Hughley is Standing up speaking the Truth. My Hat ? Off to Mr. D.L. Hughley ???
UNBELIEVEABLE!!
IF TV ONE IS STILL A BLACK OWNED TV STATION, THEN YOU SHOULD BE CANCELLED!! ANYONE BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN AND OUTSPOKEN LOSES THERE VOICE AND POWER VERY QUICKLY; CASE IN POINT, MICHAEL BAISDEN. GET A GRIP!
DL HUGHLEY’S SHOW WAS THE BEST SHOW ON TV ONE!!!-PISSED OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!