Pro-family Groups Continue to Put Pressure on Netflix
By Rebecca Davis, Special for USABR.
Season 2 of the original Netflix series 13 Reasons Why released globally May 18, despite efforts from pro-family groups to cancel it.
Based on the content of the second season, the groups’ efforts to stop it are more than justified; therefore American Family Association and Parents Television Council have joined forces and are continuing their efforts to put the maximum pressure on Netflix to cancel the damaging series.
Season 2 is the continuation of Season 1, which focused on the graphic suicide of protagonist Hannah Baker. Season 2 picks up months after Hannah’s suicide with the unfolding of a lawsuit in court. Suicide takes somewhat of a back seat in the newest season while sexual assault is front and center as are exacerbated filth and gratuitous content.
PTC says “Season 2 delivers [a] demoralizing message of hopelessness,” and AFA agrees.
Among a plethora of disturbing content, Season 2 of 13 Reasons Why contains:
- multiple sex scenes including rape and sexual assault
- pornography
- blatant stabs at Christianity
- the normality, acceptance, and celebration of homosexuality
- near fatal substance abuse
- teens attempting to detox a heroin addict
- excessive, profane language
- plans for a mass school shooting that is thwarted last minute
- male teens raping another male teen by sodomizing him with a mop handle after beating him and shoving his head in the toilet.
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Critics say that the sodomy scene in the last episode is reason enough for Netflix to pull Season 2. Viewers took to Twitter with the following comments:
- “[S]eason 2, episode 13 … is unacceptable. It is a reality in this world, but that went beyond graphic and I am sick.” – sami
- “13 reasons why is a truly disgusting show, i hope none of my mutuals watch it/support it in any way. the writers/producers do NOT care abt people with mental illnesses or abt raising awareness around mental health. they care abt romanticizing mental illness, rape and suicide +” – lia [d-138]
- “Why is it becoming normal to show actual rape scenes in tv shows especially ones aimed at teenagers.. like I hate that my sister watches 13 reasons why it disgusts me but she’s literally the target audience of the show.” – marsella
The AFA writer who critiqued the series said: “I was physically sick after reviewing Season 2. It is hard to put into words the traumatizing effect it had on me.”
Therefore, AFA is urging people to sign a petition asking Netflix to realize the danger of this show and pull both Seasons 1 and 2.
Although Season 1 became the most tweeted about show at the time of its March 2017 release garnering more than 11 million tweets, Season 2 has not received such a favorable response.
Variety reports: “The Season 2 premiere episode of 13 Reasons Why, … averaged 6.08 million viewers in the U.S. in the first three days of its release, according to Nielsen estimates.”
That is 9.72 million less than “the number of viewers who watched the first episode” of Season 2 of Stranger Things and 4.92 million less than the number of “U.S. viewers [who] watched Netflix’s fantasy-cop movie Bright starring Will Smith during its first three days of release.”
Perhaps Netflix will get the message that viewers do not want to be exposed to such hopeless and disgusting darkness all in the name of entertainment.
Rebecca Davis is a Staff Writer for the American Family Association Journal. Rebecca Davis has been a writer for the American Family Association since 2004. She is also associate editor of The Stand, the ministry’s blog site. She is a pastor’s wife and mother of two.
