'The Office' edits out scene from 2012 episode featuring Blackface

The episode that went under the hammer is 2012's 'Dwight Christmas'

Hit NBC sitcom The Office has edited out a scene in which a character appears on screen in blackface, confirmed Variety. 

The 2012 episode, Dwight Christmas was addressed in a statement issued by the show creator Greg Daniels.

"The Office is about a group of people trying to work together with mutual respect despite the inappropriate actions of their boss and assistant manager. The show employed satire to expose unacceptable behavior and deliver a message of inclusion," he said.

The episode in question features Dwight attempting to convince his colleagues at Dunder Mifflin to celebrate a Pennsylvania Dutch Christmas in the scene.

"Today we cut a shot of an actor wearing blackface that was used to criticize a specific racist European practice. Blackface is unacceptable and making the point so graphically is hurtful and wrong. I am sorry for the pain that caused," said Daniels in his statement.

The removal comes as the latest in a series of Hollywood edits thanks to show runners and executives rethinking episodes featuring characters in blackface.

Tina Fey's 30 Rock, Hulu's Scrubs, and Netflix's Little Britain are some examples - 30 Rock has had multiple episodes removed as has Scrubs. Little Britain has been removed entirely.

Late night hosts Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon have also publicly apologized for using blackface for impersonations of Black celebrities in the past.

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