Netflix series ‘The Crown’ causes backlash

The fourth season of Netflix's series ‘The Crown’, which is about the British Royal Family, has caused backlash, with the UK’s secretary of state for culture asking the American over-the-top content platform and production company to warn viewers the show is fictional.

“It's a beautifully produced work of fiction. So as with other TV productions, Netflix should be very clear at the beginning it is just that,” Oliver Dowden told the British newspaper The Mail on Sunday.

“Without this, I fear a generation of viewers who did not live through these events may mistake fiction for fact,” he added.

The minister is expected to submit a request to Netflix this week asking each episode to be prefaced by a warning that the drama is a fictionalized version of the British Royal Family's story.

Historian Alex von Tunzelmann was surprised by Dowden’s request, saying the series “is billed as a drama” and the characters are played by actors, so it's hard to believe people can be that stupid.

‘The Crown’ is about the life of Queen Elizabeth II from the 1940s to modern times. Its previous seasons did not raise similar concerns, but the fourth season covers events that took place in the 1980s and many of the main characters are still alive.

Season four of ‘The Crown’ largely revolves around Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales and their rocky marriage.

Britain's Daily Telegraph cited royal sources as saying Prince Charles refuses to watch the latest season.

SQ/MG