The creators of “Game of Thrones” have revealed President Barack Obama received advanced access to the hotly anticipated sixth season because, well, you don’t turn down a request from POTUS.
Speaking on the red carpet at the HBO show’s premiere, producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss revealed one of the perks of being president.
Describing the overwhelming success of the show, Weiss said: “I think for both of us — finding out the President wanted advance copies of the episodes — that was an ‘Aha!’ moment.”
The creators told interviewer Veronica Belmont that, yes, they sent Obama episodes early because “he’s the leader of the free world.”
Benioff added: “When the commander in chief says, ‘I want to see advanced episodes’ — what are ya gonna do?”
The two also discussed the upcoming season being “the first time we really moved beyond the end point of the books” by George R.R. Martin and the freedom that brought to the show’s direction.
The President has revealed his fandom before by referring to the show in jokes at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner last year and even naming his favorite “GOT” character — sort of — in a GQ interview.
Last year, as the ultra-popular show began its fifth season, the first four episodes were leaked online.
To avoid a repeat, HBO announced last month it was not releasing any advance episodes for critics to review ahead of season six.
“Game of Thrones” is consistently the world’s most-pirated show each year.
Other attempts to nix the number of illegal downloads around the globe also saw HBO premiere the last season simultaneously in 170 countries.
The show returns for everyone else on April 24.
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Source: CNN