The trailer for Kirk Cameron’s new documentary Unstoppable is now back online after being banned this week by Facebook and YouTube.
Cameron, known for his role as the young Mike Seaver of the 80’s sitcom Growing Pains, and most recently as the co-host of the Way of the Master evangelism training videos, alerted followers of the matter this week when he found his trailer being flagged as spam.
“Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?” the trailer asks. “If God is good, and He is a God of love, and He is powerful enough to stop evil and pain and suffering, why doesn’t He?”
Cameron says that the project is his “most personal” film to date, and is a reflection of his journey to “be honest and examine [his] questions and [his] doubts.” He outlines in the film trailer that the “meat grinder” experience made his faith in God stronger than ever.
However, just a day after announcing the film online, Cameron posted on Thursday that Facebook had barred him from posting a link to the documentary website.
“Facebook has officially ‘blocked’ me and you (and everyone else) from posting any link to my new movie at UnstoppableTheMoviedotcom, labeling the content as ‘abusive,’ ‘unsafe,’ and ‘spammy…’! I can’t even write the real link here or Facebook would block this post, too!” he wrote. “We have been officially shut down by Facebook and unable to get any response from them. This is my most personal film about faith, hope and love, and about why God allows bad things to happen to good people. What is ‘abusive’ or ‘unsafe’ about that?”
He then asked followers to share his status on their pages in an effort to urge Facebook to unblock the site.
On Friday, Cameron posted on his page that Facebook had apologized over the matter, but that YouTube had now “blocked and labeled the Unstoppable trailer as ‘spam,’ ‘scam,’ and ‘deceptive.'”
By the end of the day, Cameron announced–with the inclusion of a beaming photo–that the outpouring of support had again resulted in the trailer being restored.
“Because of your firm, loving and clear voice, not only did Facebook welcome us back, YouTube also removed its block on our Unstoppable movie trailer,” he wrote. “We are back online with full access.”
As of press time, Cameron’s status had received over 76,000 likes and 19,000 shares.
Noting the irony of his Unstoppable film being halted–at least temporarily–from the onset, the famed actor who was once an atheist asked that followers purchase tickets to the one-night September 24th showing so that “nothing can stop it from playing.”
Cameron plans on simulcasting the film live from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia to theaters and other venues across the country.
“Theaters full of people who love God, even in the midst of tragedy, is a powerful witness to everyone that life is stronger than death, good is stronger than evil, and faith is stronger than doubt,” he said.