Startling revelations have emerged regarding Patrisse Cullors, the former leader of Black Lives Matter (BLM), and her terminated multi-platform deal with Warner Bros. Television Group.
While Cullors had initially claimed to have plans for various genres such as dramas, comedies, documentary series, and animation programming for children, it has come to light that no shows were produced under the agreement.
Insiders familiar with the studio’s contract negotiations confirmed that an overall deal was signed between Warner Bros. and BLM co-founder Patrisse Cullors in 2020, but the agreement was abruptly terminated in October 2022 without any content being created.
The multi-year contract aimed to develop and distribute original black-themed content through streaming, cable, and broadcast media platforms. Reports from October 2020 indicated that the agreement covered scripted and unscripted programming, including animated and children’s content.
At the time of the announcement, the studio highlighted Cullors’ role as a leader in the BLM movement, which originated in the courtyard of her Los Angeles home in 2013. However, the specific financial details of the deal remained undisclosed.
When approached for comment, Warner Bros., now known as Warner Bros. Discovery, declined to provide any information. Cullors herself chose to remain silent on the matter when questioned.
Interestingly, an interview Cullors gave to The Hollywood Reporter in January 2022 contradicted the fact that her contract was set to expire in October 2022. During the interview, she mentioned ongoing documentary projects centered around the reparative potential of “landback” for Native Americans and the prospects of upward mobility for black Americans. She also revealed plans for written projects exploring marijuana and highlighting female black leaders, as well as the impact of living under a system that simultaneously renders them hyper-visible and hyper-invisible.
Cullors, an artist and activist, resigned from her position in Black Lives Matter in May 2021, following reports by The Post about her substantial real estate investments totaling $3.2 million in California and Georgia. Cullors maintained that she had financed these purchases independently and clarified that her resignation had been planned for some time, unrelated to attempts by right-wing critics to undermine her character.
Public records indicate that a year after signing the Warner Bros. contract, Cullors acquired a 2,500-square-foot mansion in Los Angeles’ Topanga Canyon for $1.4 million. In recent months, she has shifted her focus to art projects, exhibiting her work in Los Angeles galleries, including one that featured a collection of her pieces.