Block Party (2022) is more than just a family comedy; it is an essential cultural milestone that celebrates Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Featuring a cast of notable Black actors, including Antoinette Robertson and Margaret Avery, the film carries powerful themes of community, heritage, and liberation—all critical narratives in today’s America. It even premiered at Opal Lee’s Juneteenth film festival, an important event that honors Juneteenth’s legacy and keeps the celebration alive each year.
Yet, despite its cultural resonance and timing, Block Party has quietly disappeared from major streaming platforms, including BET Plus, where it once streamed as a flagship title. This removal has coincided with corporate restructuring under Skydance’s takeover of Paramount Global, which owns BET Plus. The producers have even been forced to repackage the film, removing the BET Plus logo added just a few years ago, a move none of them ever imagined needing to make.
The Greater Context: Anti-DEI Backlash and Corporate Retrenchment
This film’s disappearance reflects a larger and troubling trend in the entertainment industry: the scaling back of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives amid rising political backlash. Juneteenth—established as a federal holiday in 2021—marks a momentous occasion in American history, yet celebrations and programming tied to it are being reduced or canceled in many places nationwide under the guise of “safety concerns” and other thinly veiled excuses.
In this light, having a joyful, uplifting film like Block Party erased from streaming lineups is an erasure of culture and history. The film doesn’t just entertain; it educates and celebrates the resiliency and richness of Black life and family—a message the country desperately needs, especially as Juneteenth approaches every year.
A Missed Opportunity to Anchor a Major Holiday Event
Rather than pulling back, Paramount Global—and other streaming services—have a major opportunity here. Block Party could serve as a cornerstone for a lucrative, multi-day programming event marking Juneteenth annually. Just as Christmas and Fourth of July are accompanied by an abundance of themed programming, Juneteenth deserves the same thoughtful and celebratory treatment. This film alone could anchor a cultural moment that draws viewers, celebrates Black history, and builds goodwill among audiences craving representation.
A Call to Paramount: It’s Time to Lead, Not Retreat
Paramount Global must publicly commit to celebrating Juneteenth through renewed, long-term licensing of Block Party and investing in similar culturally significant projects. The company owes it to Black communities, to the legacy of Juneteenth, and to the audiences eager for authentic, positive celebration of this federal holiday.
This moment is a litmus test for corporate values: will Paramount be a leader in meaningful DEI representation—or will it join those who choose convenience and politics over culture and history? Keeping Block Party and similar content front and center is not just ethically responsible but smart business. It’s time for Paramount—and every major studio and streamer—to elevate the stories that matter.
The fight for representation is ongoing. Distributing and sustaining access to films like Block Party is essential if Juneteenth is to truly become a living, breathing holiday for generations to come. As this film’s fate hangs in the balance, so too does the reflection of Black joy, history, and community—or the painful erasure thereof.