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‘Reagan’ director’s cut set for September release amid YouTube ad disputes
Re‘Reagan’ director’s cut set for September release amid YouTube ad disputes
The team behind the 2024 biopic ‘Reagan’ is preparing to release a director’s cut in theaters next month, while clashing with YouTube over ads for promotional interviews that were flagged under the platform’s policies.
The team behind the 2024 biopic «Reagan» is preparing to release a director’s cut in theaters next month, while again clashing with an online platform over what it calls censorship. Producer Mark Joseph said YouTube flagged advertisements for a series of interviews tied to the film under its advertising policies, including one episode featuring rock legend Gene Simmons.
The interviews are part of Joseph’s podcast special series «Making REAGAN,» which features conversations with actors, musicians, and others involved in the film. According to Joseph, an ad promoting the first episode, in which Simmons discusses family, his producing work, and his appreciation for America, was flagged for «advertisement for elections» and «shocking content.» Simmons, co-founder and bassist of KISS, contributed a cover of «Stormy Weather» to the film’s soundtrack.
«For 30 years, Simmons has been branded for outrageous content, and now he’s been deemed outrageous for talking?» Joseph told Fox News Digital. He called the labeling «ridiculous,» noting that the conversation was tame and that anyone watching the episode could see that.
Other episodes whose promotions were flagged for «election advertising» feature Kathie Lee Gifford, who co-wrote the tribute song «I Knew It Would Be You» for the film; actresses Amanda Righetti and Lesley-Anne Down; actors Dan Lauria, Elya Baskin, and Trevor Donovan; author Arthur Laffer; singer Tanya Tucker; and screenwriter Howard Klausner. An Aug. 12 episode featuring an exclusive interview with John Hinckley Jr., who attempted to assassinate President Reagan in 1981, also had its promotion blocked.
«The idea that an information and news-oriented interview with the man who shot Ronald Reagan, John Hinckley, is labeled ‘election advertising’ and blocked from being boosted is equally crazy,» Joseph said. According to his team, YouTube does not offer an appeal option in such cases, only allowing them to boost a different episode instead.
YouTube responded to a request for comment with a statement saying that ads related to the podcast were removed for including profanity, specifically referring to the Simmons episode. A YouTube representative noted that after review, the ad does not violate the platform’s U.S. Election Ads policy, but because it contains profanity, it cannot be approved to run as an advertisement. The platform also said it had reached out to the creator to help them understand its policies and that they are welcome to adjust the content to promote the video in the future.
Joseph, however, reiterated that many of the flagged episodes were not political in nature and were simply discussions with contributors to the film. YouTube later said that following a careful review, some advertised episodes were out of scope of the Election Ads policy, but others were in scope.
The director’s cut of «Reagan,» directed by Sean McNamara and produced by Rawhide Pictures, will be released in theaters on Sept. 25, featuring 10 additional minutes of footage. It will return to roughly 600 theaters after limited Independence Day screenings tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary. The film follows Reagan’s childhood in Illinois, his Hollywood acting career, his governorship of California, and his rise to the presidency.
This is not the first time the film’s creators have faced online restrictions. While promoting the film ahead of its release in August 2024, Facebook restricted efforts to boost posts and advertisements for the movie, including material featuring star Dennis Quaid and a Reagan quotation about America’s best days still lying ahead. The film’s official Facebook page also faced temporary suspensions, with Facebook citing automated systems and policies governing content involving politicians before a presidential election.
Production on «Reagan» began in 2020 and faced multiple stops and starts, including a month-long shutdown due to COVID while filming in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Despite these challenges, the film was released in theaters in August 2024, with Quaid starring as the 40th president.
