Netflix’s “13 Reasons Why” has added an extra advisory warning in the opening credits as dark clouds formed over the series for the way it portrayed suicide and other teenage traumas.
The teen drama, which focuses on actor Hannah Baker (playing Katherine Langford) and “the 13 cassette tapes she leaves behind after committing suicide,” has been criticized for being graphic in its depiction of suicide, sexual assault, among other topics, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Although the series has received some praise for sparking dialogue on a lot of the issues many teens today face, educators and mental health experts have expressed concern for how the show interprets topics like “suicide, depression, bullying and sexual assault,” said the Rolling Stone.
They worry that these portrayals could be detrimental to youth who are at-risk for these types of behaviors.
As a result, Netflix has decided to add an additional warning card before the first episode of the show.
“13 Reasons Why” already has a TV-MA rating and has graphic content warnings for two episodes, but apparently that hasn’t been enough.
Netflix says it also plans to strengthen “the messaging and resource language in the existing cards for episodes that contain graphic subject matter.”
“While many of our members find the show to be a valuable driver for starting important conversation with their families, we have also heard concern from those who feel the series should carry additional advisories,” Netflix said in a statement, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “Currently the episodes that carry graphic content are identified as such and the series overall carries a TV-MA rating. Moving forward, we will add an additional viewer warning card before the episode as an extra precaution for those about to start the series.”
Despite criticisms, the creator of the series, Brian Yorkey, has defended the show’s approach.
“As difficult as it is to watch, it should be difficult to watch,” Yorkey said. “If we make it easy to watch, then we’re selling good we didn’t want to sell.”
Selena Gomez, who’s one of the producers on the show, also addressed concerns about the drama that’s based on Jay Asher’s 2007 novel, which carries the same name as the Netflix series.
In a recent interview with The Associated Press, Gomez said she knew “backlash” would come while trying to tell Asher’s “beautifully tragic, complicated yet suspenseful story” on the small screen.
“We wanted to do it justice and, yeah, [the backlash is] going to come no matter what,” she said. “It’s not an easy subject to talk about, but I’m very fortunate with how it’s doing and I’m overwhelmed, very proud of it.”