Facebook has banned ads for Holocaust film Beautiful Blue Eyes. The film’s distributor MovieFarm, told the film’s director Joshua Newton that Facebook had banned the film’s ads for violating its policy against content that, “includes direct or indirect assertions or implications about a person’s race.”
The movie, which is Roy Scheider’s final performance, is said to be based on Newton’s father’s experiences as a holocaust survivor, as reported by Rolling Stone.
It centers on an NYPD officer who has been haunted by the murder of his family during World War II. He believes he has found the Nazi who killed his family and asks his son to help him in his quest for vengeance.
The film’s title references the eye color of a kid who was killed by Nazis. It is not clear why Facebook deemed the movie racist.
The ban was appealed but Facebook upheld its decision.
“After a requested review of your Facebook account, we confirmed it didn’t comply with our Advertising Policies or other standards,” Facebook said. “You can no longer advertise using Facebook Products. This is our final decision.”
“This is the action of haters – and there are sadly many in our society – who seek to damage the film in order to trivialize the Holocaust,” Newton told Rolling Stone at the Toronto Film Festival.
“Surely, Mark Zuckerberg did not intend this to happen.”
Newton said he is considering legal options.
“Clearly, [Mark Zuckerberg] is far too busy developing his company’s presence in the metaverse,” Newton said to Rolling Stone. “Instead of focusing on virtual reality, Zuckerberg should take note of what is happening in the real world.”
