“We’re sorry for any pain caused to the Lac-Mégantic community,”
Netflix has finally decided to remove footage of a real-life train disaster from Bird Box, two months after insisting that the sensitive scene wouldn’t be replaced.
The horror movie initially sparked backlash after an apocalyptic disaster was represented through real-life footage of the 2013 Lac-Mégantic disaster, which killed 47 people when a train carrying crude oil derailed and exploded in a small Canadian town.
“We’re sorry for any pain caused to the Lac-Mégantic community,” Netflix confirmed.
The decision was praised by Nathalie Roy, Canada’s Minister of Culture and Communications.
“This result shows that by being united and pooling our efforts, everything is possible,” wrote Nathalie on Twitter.
Ce geste était attendu par respect pour les victimes de cet horrible drame, leurs proches et toute la communauté de #LacMégantic. Ce résultat démontre qu’en étant solidaires et en mettant nos efforts en commun, tout est possible. https://t.co/fxLUzhPkpv#MCC #PolQc #AssNat
— Nathalie Roy (@NathalieRoyCAQ) March 14, 2019
In January, the mayor of Lac-Megantic unsuccesfully campaigned for Netflix to remove the footage, before the Canadian Parliament stepped in to demand compensation.
“For people in Lac-Megantic, they saw images of their own downtown burning, and could imagine their own family members in it,” said Canadian legislator Pierre Nantel.
Canadian MPs also reportedly filed a “stern rebuke” against Netflix in a bid to ensure that all images of the disaster are removed from the streaming service.
The controversy came after Bird Box sparked a viral challenge that saw users emulating the events of the film.
