AceShowbiz -

"Escaping the KKK" is dead. A&E decided to abandon the controversial Ku Klux Klan documentary, originally called "Generation KKK", just one day after changing the title and the marketing. The network made decision after learning that some people received cash payments from producers to appear on the show.

"A&E learned last night from the third-party producers who made the documentary that cash payments - which we currently understand to be nominal - were made in the field to some participants in order to facilitate access," the cable TV said in a statement to cancel the docu-series which was supposed to debut on January 10.

"While we stand behind the intent of the series and the seriousness of the content, these payments are a direct violation of A&E's policies and practices for a documentary. We had previously provided assurances to the public and to our core partners - including the Anti-Defamation League and Color of Change - that no payment was made to hate group members, and we believed that to be the case at the time. We have now decided not to move forward with airing this project."