OWN Pulls Plug on ‘Love Is__’ Series

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

OWN has cancelled its drama series Love Is __ weeks after alleged domestic violence charges surfaced against the series’ executive producer Salim Akil.

The series -- created and produced by Akil and his wife Mara Brock Akil -- was initially renewed by OWN this past summer, but the network decided Wednesday to pull the plug on the series amid a lawsuit filed last month by a woman alleging Salim Akil physically and sexually abused her. 

“OWN has decided not to move forward with the second season of “Love Is __,” the network said in a statement. “The TV memoir was inspired by the real-life love story of producers Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil.”

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.