Downton Abbey Petition Tries to Force Stevens Back

American fans are not taking Dan Stevens’ departure from Downton Abbey lying down. One has petitioned the White House to force Dan Stevens to rejoin the cast or else make him face deportation. A. H. of Rogers, Arkansas, the petition’s creator contends that Stevens' leaving the drama is a “crime against the people of America” since the show airs on PBS which is a network partially funded by the U.S. government.

Rogers posted the plea on the federal government’s We the People website that allows anyone to initiate petitions. People have created petitions about a variety of subjects including asking the government to begin building a real Death Star by 2016. (That request was rejected.)

The administration must respond to the petition if it reaches 100,000 signatures. As of this writing A. H. Rogers is the sole signature. (Of course we won't count on Dame Maggie Smith adding her John Hancock since she admitted to 60 Minutes that she doesn't even watch show.)

Read the petition’s text below. And sign it if you want to.

British citizen and renowned thespian, Dan Stevens, has chosen not to renew his contract and remain on the popular ITV/PBS television program, Downton Abbey. This has caused great angst to fans around the world, and contributed to a particularly nasty malaise falling on the US fan base.

Since PBS is partially funded by the US Government and US citizens tax dollars, Dan Stevens has basically committed a crime against the people of America. As a result he should be immediately deported to the UK and given a choice... either return to the show for at least another two full seasons or be permanently banished from the United States.