When We Needed It Most: Viewers Sad as Netflix Ends ‘Patriot Act’

After six seasons, Netflix has cancelled Hasan Minhaj’s ‘Patriot Act’.

Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj.

(Photo Courtesy: Netflix)

After six seasons, Netflix announced that it had cancelled Hasan Minhaj’s Patriot Act.

Patriot Act was exceptional television. Not only because it was hosted by a person of colour, a South Asian American man, but also because it focused on issues that concerned people of colour.

The announcement was met with shock and sadness on social media. Many on Twitter lamented the cancellation of the show – and the timing.

The world's largest streaming service, Netflix weighs audience numbers against the cost of production during renewal decisions, and has historically struggled with the talk show category.

Other talk shows on Netflix, hosted by comedians like Michelle Wolf and Chelsea Handler, have been cancelled after only one season.

A petition on Change.Org to ‘Bring back Patriot Act by Hassan Minhaj and his crew’ is quickly gaining traction since the announcement.

‘Reflecting Reality’

Patriot Act has been lauded for making complex issues and current affairs accessible and relatable to younger audiences. It has been praised in the past for taking bold stances, and being a transparent reflection of reality.

A still from The Patriot Act’s episode prior that first aired in March 2019. The episode discussed the 2G scam, Kashmir, and Modi’s ‘hug diplomacy’. (Photo: Netflix)

On the show, Hasan Minhaj has spoken about the current politics of several countries including India. The episode that aired prior to the 2019 Indian general elections discussed the 2G scam, Kashmir, and what Minhaj labelled Modi’s 'hug diplomacy'.

An episode of the Patriot Act that focused on Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder even got banned by Saudi Arabia.