A couple years ago, Disney executives made the decision to cut out a scene in the first 10 minutes of the gritty cop drama The French Connection because one of the lead characters Popeye Doyle, played brilliantly by the late Gene Hackman, used the “N” word. They also replaced the audio track of the film with a new and unnecessary one.

This isn't about offensive or outdated language and new audio mixes. It's about something much bigger: the unchecked power of corporate entities to alter works of art to suit their tastes. Edits to the classic 1971 film  were made posthumously, in the same year as the passing of its director, William Friedkin. This isn't merely an affront to the film itself, it's a dangerous precedent being set for future digital art works.


If media companies can unilaterally decide what parts of a film or any media should be changed, how safe are other artistic works? This issue speaks to a larger, more concerning trend where corporate decision-makers might rewrite history or redefine art without the creator’s consent. We must not allow art to be molded by those with financial motives, but rather honor the original vision of its creators. The ability to experience art as it was originally intended is crucial for preserving our cultural heritage.


Films like The French Connection are not just entertainment; they are historical artefacts and reflections of the time in which they were made. Every edit without the original creator’s consent or after their passing, especially changes made in response to modern sensibilities, threatens to erase the context and intent behind these pieces. It diminishes the impact of the characters actions and dilutes the core messages of the film.  How can we expect to properly reckon with and understand our past when we allow others to erase it? How can we support artists and their vision when we allow others to corrupt it when they are no longer alive to stand up for it?


We call on all US streaming services to revert The French Connection to its original unedited release version. By doing so, we uphold artistic integrity and serve notice that the preservation of artistic works is critical. Let’s make sure that future generations can witness art the way its creators intended. Sign this petition to demand the reversal of these changes and secure a promise from content providers to keep original versions of all artistic works untouched by corporate hands.