After Pulling ‘Live PD’ Amid BLM Backlash, A&E Sues Reelz to try to Keep ‘On Patrol Live’ off the Air

A&E Television Networks whose parent company is Disney has filed a lawsuit against REELZ over their new show “On Patrol Live”

A&E alleges suit alleges that On Patrol Live is a knock-off of their show “Live PD”. Live PD was canceled in 2020 amid BLM protests and riots over the death of George Floyd and police brutality.

They claim Reelz and Bif Fish are piggybacking off of A&E’s reputation with “On Patrol Live” as it has the same primary hosts, format, and some segments.

A&E’s complaint reads, “Defendants intentionally have confused the public into believing that On Patrol: Live is Live PD and is associated with AETN’s brand. Defendants and Live PD’s former principals openly and repeatedly have referred to Live PD as ‘returning’ and ‘coming back’ on REELZ. These public statements were not gaffes or misstatements; they were part and parcel of Defendants’ bad-faith strategy of capitalizing on AETN’s reputation, trading on AETN’s  goodwill, and passing off On Patrol: Live as the same product as Live PD.”

Host of “On Patrol Live” and “Live PD” had stated when promoting the Reelz show, “In most ways, it is going to be a very similar type of show to the one that existed previously,” but has fundamentally changes the fabric of the show.”

Fans were very upset with the cancelation of “Live PD” and it sounds like Abrams and Big Fish had tried to get the show back on TV with A&E but the network did not want to bring it back and instead had ordered a new series “Court Night Live”.

Some may perceive the action by the Disney-owned network as an effort to keep a police-positive show off of TV.

Many on Twitter rebuked the lawsuit news:

Fans are clearly upset and don’t want to lose “On Patrol Live”. Friday we will see if Reelz plans to keep airing the show or if they will be taking it off the air.

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