Less than a week after news broke that an upcoming episode of NBC’s “Law & Order: SVU” would feature a Donald Trump-like character, the network has pulled the episode from the schedule, multiple outlets report.
Originally intended to air on Oct. 26, less than two weeks before Election Day, the episode titled “Unstoppable” stars “Veep” actor Gary Cole as a Trump-esque wealthy businessman-turned-politician. According to the network’s description, the character’s campaign “goes haywire when several women go public with damaging accusations.” Sound familiar?
“The episode originally scheduled for October 26 has been postponed. It has not yet been assigned a new airdate,” an NBC spokesperson told CNN in a statement released Friday.
NBC has yet to provide an explanation for its scheduling decision, but the timing is curious, considering the network’s involvement in Trump’s explicit 2005 hot-mic recording featuring “Access Hollywood” host Billy Bush.
Since the recording was leaked this month, more than 10 women have come forward accusing the Republican presidential nominee of sexual assault.
Trump denies the claims, labeling them “a total setup,” while also publicly mocking his accusers.
There were many internal debates about the episode’s storyline to avoid siding with or against Trump in the wake of the allegations against him, according to Variety. The episode was reportedly completed months ago, but has been tweaked since to likely avoid further controversy.
The Huffington Post has reached out to NBC’s representatives for comment.
“Law & Order: SVU” airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.
Editor’s note: Donald Trump regularly incites political violence and is a serial liar, rampant xenophobe, racist, misogynist and birther who has repeatedly pledged to ban all Muslims — 1.6 billion members of an entire religion — from entering the U.S.
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