People outside America are denied the full pleasure of watching Insecure season 4

OPEN LETTER TO HBO ENTERPRISES TO FIX THIS EMBARGO

The comedy drama series Insecure is at the forefront of dynamic programming with a black lead cast chronicling ups and downs in adulting, of love, life, friendships and work. It speaks to ethnically diverse audiences through nuance, common experience, peculiarities and a vibrant urban culture scene of art, music and fashion.

In the UK we simply love it! Every black woman I know enjoys Insecure which made last year’s hiatus a difficult pill to swallow. Now that it’s back you’d think we’d be happy, but I am really pissed off that I couldn’t access it through most mainstream media channels. We can’t get it via Amazon (even though people in America can subscribe to HBO via Amazon.com), it’s not available on Prime, Netflix or in dvd format, only through Sky which is less popular nowadays and extremely expensive.

Most people in the UK have been reduced to scouring the internet for precarious streaming sites to get our fix. The picture and sound can be poor quality with relentless pop-ups & advertisements interrupting, plus the increased chance of our laptops picking up a virus. Having to watch the show like this diminishes the pleasure of seeing it in high definition with friends and family. It’s unfair and unacceptable!

In all seriousness I want to implore the Insecure production & distribution teams- particularly Isa Rae as a global influencer to implement an access for all distribution strategy to amplify this art for audiences around the world, especially the UK. We’re use to getting shows like Power or Blackish a day or two after they air in America, but this is truly ridiculous. We are all better than this.

The American entertainment industry is extremely influential because people can access it. Insecure speaks to a truth not often addressed on TV. Please recognise us an important audience demographic that programmes can be made for and about. This is the perfect opportunity to make an impact all and not just a few.

This message is aimed for staff at HBO Entertainment, Issa Rae Productions, Penny for Your Thoughts Entertainment, 3 Arts Entertainment and HBO Enterprises