P&G Presents Tonight’s CBS Primetime Special Honoring the Life of Rep. John Lewis

Inspirational Films on Bias and Equality to Replace Traditional Commercials in Network Premiere on Tuesday, August 4 at 10 PM ET/PT and Rebroadcasts on BET, MTV, Smithsonian and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.

CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As a part of its longstanding work to promote equality and inclusion for all people, P&G is proud to be the sole sponsor of a CBS primetime special honoring the life and legacy of Congressman John Lewis. The hour-long special, JOHN LEWIS: CELEBRATING A HERO will be hosted by Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Gayle King and Brad Pitt, and will be broadcast tonight, Tuesday, August 4 from 10 to 11PM ET/PT on CBS and CBS All Access.

Congressman Lewis spent his life fighting for equal rights for African Americans, women, members of the LGBTQ+ community and many other groups, while advocating for voting rights and civic engagement.

P&G is honored to play a small role in spotlighting his life’s work and inspiring future generations to take similar action. Through several initiatives, including P&G’s Take on Race and My Black is Beautiful, P&G and its brands are working to advance equality, equity and opportunity for all people.

Instead of traditional commercial breaks, P&G will work with CBS to air a series of thought-provoking short films intended to shine a light on bias, inequality and racism with the intention to inspire important conversations that drive understanding, empathy and change. The films will include The Look, which spotlights the everyday bias experienced by Black men in America and was nominated last week for a 2020 Emmy Award for Outstanding Commercial. The rest of the short films include:

• The Talk, highlights conversations many Black parents have with their children to prepare them for the bias and prejudice they will inevitably face.
• The Choice, aims to inspire majority communities to step up and take action for racial equality and drives people to P&G’s Take on Race resources.
• Two Evils, highlights the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color and connects with resources provided by My Black is Beautiful.
• Voices of the Movement, a series developed by Olay to highlight women fueling the modern-day fight for civil rights.
• Choose Equal, highlights the disproportionate impact of pandemics and economic downturns on women and encourages people to choose equal as we recover and restart.

“Congressman Lewis is an American hero. We should all aspire to lead a life as meaningful as his — working every day to help our communities, our country and our world achieve their fullest potential,” said Marc Pritchard, Chief Brand Officer. “We are humbled by the opportunity to honor him not just through this program, but through the work we do each day to call out injustice, take meaningful action and advance equality for all people.”

Lewis, a civil rights icon who helped organize the 1963 March on Washington, D.C., and served in Congress for more than three decades, died July 17 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Lewis was 80. Using CBS News’ deep archive and new interviews, the special tells the journey of Lewis’ extraordinary life through the principles that guided him. The special will explore Lewis’ life before the civil rights movement, his work alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., his efforts to fight against bullies and bigots, his unmatched work in Congress and his devotion to faith.

The special will also be telecast at a later date on BET, MTV and Smithsonian, as well as OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.

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