Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) is now streaming on HBO Max, but fans aren’t too happy about it because the streaming service had uploaded the broadcast version instead of the original R-rated film.
The broadcast edit censored a lot from the original film — the violent and gory scenes, the swearing, Harley Quinn flashing her middle fingers and even T-shirt that Renee Montoya wore (the shirt originally says, “I shaved my balls for this” but in the censored cut the words “my balls” were blurred out). If you watch the film on HBO Max, a notice will appear at the start indicating that the film had been edited from its original R-rated version.
Fans were quick to pick up on this and took to social media to point out that it was a strange move for HBO Max to censor the film when the streaming service has plenty of other uncensored films in its vast collection of titles.
So HBO Max has completely butchered Birds of Prey with a PG-13 edit, this is embarrassing pic.twitter.com/jQOyp9pT3k
— Neb | 🏳️🌈 (@NebsGoodTakes) November 27, 2021
Why is @hbomax streaming an edited version of Birds of Prey? pic.twitter.com/h2HsfW4Hqx
— Reuben Baron (@AndalusianDoge) November 26, 2021
Pulled up BIRDS OF PREY on HBO Max to see if it was true that they censored it and suffice it to say I am furious. pic.twitter.com/LwfAf2cdJ9
— Katie Carter (@katiel_carter) November 27, 2021
The censored Birds of Prey on HBO Max right now is something else. pic.twitter.com/i15YB9cgZj
— Shaurya Chawla (@_ShauryaChawla) November 27, 2021
LMAOOOO HBO Max censored Birds of Prey and… covered up Harley’s middle finger BY LITERALLY JUST CLONING IT pic.twitter.com/gAmZHsKLLd
— ’tis the jeeveson to be jolly 🎄 (@jeeveswilliams) November 27, 2021
*Joker shoots Robert Deniro’s character in the head and blood gets splattered everywhere*
No big deal – HBO Max
*Harley Quinn gives the middle finger in Birds of Prey*
HBO Max: pic.twitter.com/A9r3ZUFWvG
— laney (@dailylaney) November 27, 2021
…why? HBO Max has a host of R-rated and TV-MA content that has similar if not worse content to Birds of Prey. Christ sake, the Harley Quinn TV series is right there, and has similar content yet is allowed to remain uncensored.
Why edit Birds of Prey like this????? https://t.co/VKYen5jlYx
— Kevin, Connoisseur of Gay Cartoons (@CCharmanderK) November 26, 2021
.@hbomax Bestie, why was Birds of Prey edited? Will the original version ever come back to your platform?? 😭 pic.twitter.com/J494tzO5yP
— Miss S🧣 (Sad Girl Autumn Version) ✨1989 Study Era (@supermormongirl) November 27, 2021
Just a reminder than HBO Max has Game of Thrones but for some reason decided to censor Birds of Prey https://t.co/cYvcI6FM9r
— Nick (@nick_ferrari_12) November 27, 2021
im sorry but why the fuck is birds of prey censored on hbo max when they premiered suicide squad on the same platform and it's one of the craziest and gory superhero movies ever made, im steaming 😤😤😤
— 💀spookyV🎃 (@vicki_ggg) November 27, 2021
Birds of Prey was the first R-rated film from DC’s cinematic universe that wasn’t an alternate edition of a film that has previously been released, so fans were worried that the original R-rated version of the film was gone for good from HBO Max. But luckily, that won’t be a problem.
Turns out that HBO Max had made a mistake. A spokesperson from Warner Bros. confirmed to IGN that uploading the censored version of Birds of Prey was a mistake. They also confirmed that the R-rated film will be restored to the service.
It looks like HBO Max quickly fixed their mistake. As of November 28, the streaming service has removed the censored cut and replaced it with the original R-rated version of Birds of Prey.
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