Netflix CEO On ‘13 Reasons Why’ Controversy: “Nobody Has To Watch It”

7 June 2018, 11:35

By Woodrow Whyte

Yesterday's announcement of a third season of 13 Reasons Why has angered advocacy groups.

Yesterday (June 6) Netflix confirmed that 13 Reasons Why had been renewed for a third season.

While the announcement wasn't necessarily a surprise to fans and industry observers given the huge success of the show, the decision to renew was always going to be controversial. The series received a lot of criticism for its graphic depictions of rape and suicide in the first season, and then a male rape scene in the latest season. Despite huge efforts by Netflix to provide resources and trigger warnings to the show's younger audience, many feel Netflix should just drop the project altogether.

'13 Reasons Why' Season 3: Release Date, Cast, Spoilers, Trailers and Everything You Need To Know

Yesterday's announcement coincided with Netflix's annual shareholder meeting. CEO Reed Hasting spoke about the decision to renew at the conference and he shrugged off concerns by advocacy groups about the show according to Deadline.

“13 Reasons Why has been enormously popular and successful. It’s engaging content,” Hastings told the shareholders. “It is controversial. But nobody has to watch it.”

Tim Winter, the president of the Parents Television Council, who describe themselves and their mission as protecting "children and families from graphic sex, violence and profanity in the media, because of their proven long-term harmful effects", recently set up a petition against 13RW. In a statement, he wrote: "We would have liked to have 13 reasons for hope and redemption following the graphic suicide of the lead female teen character, but rather than providing a path forward, the season only provides cause for despondency.”

He continued: "“We condemn Netflix for renewing its teen-targeted suicide drama 13 Reasons Why. The company already potentially has the blood of children on their hands from keeping this series – with its graphic suicide scene, its sodomization of a teen boy and a potential school shooting, among other adult content – on its platform for children to view.”

Do you think '13 Reasons Why' should have been renewed?