'13 Reasons Why' Gets Controversial Renewal

Netflix teen drama 13 Reasons Why will be back for a third season, despite growing protests that allege that the series presents dangerous depictions of teen suicide and sexual violence. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings was surprisingly dismissive of the protests when he explained why he decided to order another season. Read on to hear what he had to say to those who were offended.

Via Deadline.

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings defended the decision to renew the controversial teen drama series 13 Reasons Why for a third season, despite concerns from one parenting group that warned the streaming service could potentially have “the blood of children on their hands” for the show’s graphic depictions of suicide and sexual violence.

“13 Reasons Why has been enormously popular and successful. It’s engaging content,” Hastings said during the company’s annual shareholder meeting. “It is controversial. But nobody has to watch it.”

Hastings expressed Netflix’s support for the series while seemingly shrugging off concerns of the advocacy group.

The show, whose first season was structured around the narrative of a girl explaining posthumously why she committed suicide, was a huge hit, especially among teen viewers. But its graphic depiction of Hannah Baker’s death sparked criticism that the show glamorized suicide, prompting Netflix to add viewer warnings.

The second season arrived with another swirl of controversy. Netflix canceled the premiere party last month in the aftermath of the school shooting near Houston that left 10 people dead. The current season deals with the aftermath of Baker’s death, but also includes a storyline about a student’s thwarted plans to shoot up a school dance in revenge for a sexual assault.

The advocacy group is even more vocal in criticizing today’s decision to renew the series for a third season.

Get the rest of the story at Deadline.

Do you think 13 Reasons Why should have been renewed? Let us know why or why not in the comments below.