If the layoffs at BuzzFeed, Bustle, Insider, and VICE weren’t enough, Jada Pinkett Smith’s hit Facebook show Red Table Talk has just been canceled.
Deadline detailed how the social media platform’s parent company, Meta, is shutting down its Facebook Watch originals. This includes the Daytime Emmy-winning talk show – which is hosted by Pinkett Smith and features both her daughter Willow Smith and mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris.
Since launching in 2018, the wildly popular show has broadcast 129 episodes over five seasons, garnering 11 million followers across social media.
Most memorably, 51-year-old Pinkett Smith’s show featured some pretty explosive interviews – including her own discussion with her husband over her “entanglement” with August Alsina, as well as Jordyn Woods’ first sit-down following the cheating triangle with Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson.
Pinkett Smith also used her platform to address Smith’s viral Oscars slap, something that his career is still in the process of recovering from. The series, which is produced by Westbrook Studios – co-founded by Jada and Will – is reportedly looking for a new platform.
Since the news was announced, Pinkett Smith spoke out about the situation via a statement on the show’s Facebook page. “We are so grateful to have had such a beautiful partnership and we are sorry to see the entire team disband,” it read. “We wish everyone well in their new journeys to come.” The statement also that the show is “in talks of finding a new home.”
Other Facebook shows that have fallen victim to cancelations are Steve on Watch with Steve Harvey, Piece of Mind with Taraji with Taraji P. Henson, a reboot of the reality hit MTV’s The Real World, 9 Months with Courteney Cox, Unfiltered: Paris Jackson, The Biebers on Watch, and Tom vs. Time with Tom Brady.
Many fans took to the Red Table Talk page to comment on how upset they were by the news, with one person writing: “I really hope [Red Table Talk] finds a new home so it can continue!! This hurt my heart to read. Thank you for all the talks, openness and vulnerability! Hope to see RTT some place else soon.”
Another person added: “It was an absolute honor being able to be on Red Table Talk and share my story during the Mother’s Day Special in 2021. It was so beautiful to be able to connect with so many of you here in Facebook. Thank you for all the beautiful content and inspiring moments [Red Table Talk] TEAM! You were so wonderful to work with and I hope you are able to find peace and beautiful spaces to share as your journey moves in a new direction […] [Red Table Talk] FAM forever!!!”
Entertainment Weekly explained that Red Table Talk was one of Facebook’s last remaining Facebook Watch originals.
