So the complaints have been heard: director Spike Lee has decided to re-edit his new 9/11 documentary following public scrutiny.
The Oscar award-winning director came under fire recently after a private press screening revealed the conspiracy theories he included in the last episode of NYC Epicenters: 9/11 → 2021 ½. In a New York Times
profile, Lee admitted his own reservations over the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and why he decided to include testimonies from the conspiracy group, Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth in his new film.“I got questions,” Lee confessed. “The amount of heat that it takes to make steel melt, that temperature’s not
reached. And then the juxtaposition of the way Building 7 fell to the ground when you put it next to other building collapses that were demolitions, it’s like you’re looking at the same thing.”“But people going to make up their own mind,” he added. “My approach is put the information in the movie and let people decide for themselves. I respect the intelligence of the audience.”
While the backlash came quickly after the interview was released, spectators who actually attended the press screening of the final episode defended Lee, saying he was effective by including the 9/11 conspiracy theories alongside researchers who actually conducted investigations into the attack, Okay Player
reported.Now the final episode, which was set to air on the 20th anniversary of the attacks is back in the editing room being updated to avoid all the controversy. The documentary premiered in a two-hour special on HBO Max on August 22.
“I’m Back In The Editing Room And Looking At The Eighth And Final Chapter Of NYC EPICENTERS 9/11➔2021½,” Lee said in a statement on Wednesday. “I Respectfully Ask You To Hold Your Judgement Until You See The FINAL CUT. I Thank You.”
In addition to 9/11, the documentary also touches on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement through the lens of New York, Deadline reported. The next episode airs Sunday at 6 p.m. ET/9 p.m. PT.