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Two decades after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America, documentary filmmakers are still trying to make sense of the horrific events — even as aftereffects continue to ripple through the geopolitical landscape.

The U.S. military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan has renewed political debate over the invasion launched in the wake of the 2001 attacks as conspiracy theories about 9/11 permeate discourse about the events. In a measure of how fraught the subject remains, Spike Lee cut 30 minutes of 9/11 truther material from the fourth and final episode of his HBO documentary, “NYC Epicenters 9/11-2021½,” after initially releasing it to the media for review and stoking further controversy by discussing his doubts in a New York Times interview about how the twin towers were destroyed.

Filmmakers and TV programmers acknowledge that these projects require delicate treatment — especially concerning graphic scenes of the attacks and their aftermath — but stress that 9/11 is an important topic to tackle.

Next month marks the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, and Spike Lee‘s HBO docu-series “NYC Epicenters 9/11-2021½” landed itself in hot water after it was revealed episodes featured conspiracy theories on the Twin Towers and what “really took down the buildings.”

Read More: Facing Rising Pressure & Criticism, Spike Lee Is Recutting 4th Episode Of ‘NYC Epicenters’ That Gives The Spotlight To 9/11 Truthers

While three of four episodes were given to the press initially for review, it wasn’t until the fourth and final episode appears in HBO’s screening portal that some journalists notice the doc devoted 30 minutes to debating how the Twin Towers fell and giving airtime to several members of the conspiracy group Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth.

Continue reading Spike Lee Completely Removes 9/11 Conspiracy Theories From HBO’s ‘NYC Epicenters’ Doc Series Following Outrage at The Playlist.

Spike Lee has removed 9/11 truther content from his HBO docuseries “NYC Epicenters 9/11-2021½,” the network confirmed Thursday.

The move comes after days of criticism over content featured in episodes of the series screened for press ahead of their release. In now-removed scenes from an upcoming episode set to air on the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attack, Lee interviewed members of the conspiracy group Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth.

In an interview with the New York Times, Lee defended the move by saying, “I mean, I got questions. And I hope that maybe the legacy of this documentary is that Congress holds a hearing, a congressional hearing about 9/11.”

Following criticism, Lee released a statement Wednesday saying he was re-editing the episode, asking viewers to withhold judgement until they see the final cut. An individual familiar with the show said approximately 30 minutes of the episode have been removed, including the entire exchange about conspiracy theories.

Spike Lee is re-editing the final episode of his currently airing HBO 9/11 docuseries, “NYC Epicenters 9/11-2021½,” following backlash to the inclusion of conspiracy theories in the project.

An individual with knowledge tells TheWrap there will be a new final cut of the fourth episode from the one that was previously available to press.

“I’m Back In The Editing Room And Looking At The Eighth And Final Chapter Of NYC Epicenters 9/11➔2021½,” Lee said in a press screeners update regarding the fourth episode of the docuseries. Each episode has two chapters.

The statement continued: “I Respectfully Ask You To Hold Your Judgement Until You See The Final Cut. I Thank You, Spike Lee.”

As part of his HBO doc series “NYC Epicenters 9/11-2021½,” which debuted its first episode Sunday on HBO, Lee interviews members of the conspiracy group Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth for the final episode.

In an interview...

Spike Lee in an interview with The New York Times from Monday explained why one episode of his documentary series on the anniversary of 9/11 includes interviews with conspiracy theorists about how the towers fell, adding that he shares some of their questions.

As part of his HBO doc series “NYC Epicenters 9/11-2021½,” Lee in the final episode interviews members of the conspiracy group Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth. And he was asked why he wanted to include their perspective in the film alongside other politicians and people who lost loved ones in the attack.

“Because I still don’t … I mean, I got questions. And I hope that maybe the legacy of this documentary is that Congress holds a hearing, a congressional hearing about 9/11,” Lee said.

When pressed whether he buys the official explanation, Lee echoed a popular conspiracy theory about whether jet fuel can melt steel beams that caused...