License Nixed For Models Of ‘General Lee’ From ‘The Dukes Of Hazzard’

No Merchandising. Editorial Use Only. No Book Cover Usage.The Dukes Of Hazzard , Catherine Bach, Tom Wopat, John Schneider Film and Television (Rex Features via AP Images)
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Warner Bros. on Wednesday said that the company would no longer license models of “General Lee,” the red Dodge Charger painted with a Confederate flag featured in the television series “The Dukes of Hazzard.”

“Warner Bros. Consumer Products has one licensee producing die-cast replicas and vehicle model kits featuring the General Lee with the confederate flag on its roof–as it was seen in the TV series. We have elected to cease the licensing of these product categories,” the company said in a statement to Yahoo News on Tuesday.

Following the deadly shooting at a historic black church in Charleston, S.C., officials renewed the debate over the Confederate flag. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) called for the state to remove the flag from the state’s capitol grounds.

Numerous companies, including Walmart, Amazon and eBay, announced they would stop selling products featuring the Confederate flag.

However, former Rep. Ben Jones (D-GA), known for his role as “Cooter” on “The Dukes of Hazzard,” said on Tuesday the flag is still seen “in positive contexts.” Jones, who is also the chairman of the Sons of Confederate Veterans heritage operations, said that now it not the time to be “making major historic decisions.”

“It’s not a Southern sin. White supremacy is a sin. Racism is a sickness that goes on all over the world. This man doesn’t represent us,” he told CNN about the Charleston shooting. “No one thinks it was not a terrible, horrible thing.”

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