American Family Association: Don’t Believe Netflix’s Ploy to Offer More ‘Family-Friendly Programming’
TUPELO, Miss.—It appears Netflix is attempting to counter the negative press surrounding a graphic film and a damaging teen-centered series by claiming that more family-friendly programming is on the horizon.
But the American Family Association (AFA, www.afa.net) isn’t buying it. And neither should viewers.
Netflix recently announced it was hoping to offer more faith- and family-based content, according to Netflix Vice President Cindy Holland at the 2018 Television Critics Association’s Summer Press Tour. “It’s a very important audience to us,” she claimed, The Christian Post reported.
But despite that assertation, Netflix hasn’t removed sexually charged content that helps further erode society. Throughout the summer, AFA has been communicating that it’s had enough with the streaming service and is hoping other Americans are ready to say “enough is enough” as well.
“We believe this is Netflix’s response to being called out by pro-family organizations like AFA who are fed up with the damaging programming streamed on Netflix,” said AFA President Tim Wildmon. “But it’s too little too late. Any parent who checks Netflix for ‘family-friendly’ content may find a small number of shows and movies, but the big-budget and heavily promoted projects like ‘13 Reasons Why’ are still front and center. It is time for Americans to say ‘enough is enough’ when it comes to Netflix programming, regardless of the token effort being made to quiet this powerful and influential audience.”
AFA’s efforts concerning Netflix began with the family organization alerting parents about the damaging teen drama “13 Reasons Why,” which it and other experts say glorifies suicide. The series also contains graphic language, violence and sexual scenes. AFA has also told the story of 14-year-old Anna Bright, who committed suicide after binge-watching season one of “13 Reasons Why.” Anna took her life in a similar fashion to the show’s main character, Hannah Baker.
Then, AFA called on concerned Americans to contact Attorney General Jeff Sessions, urging him to open an investigation of Netflix for the distribution of child pornography in violation of federal law. The film in question is an Argentinian movie called “Desire,” still airing on Netflix, which portrays a 9-year-old girl simulating sex with a pillow and includes close-up shots of her face while a younger girl watches.
When Netflix’s Holland was asked specifically about the upcoming family content, she answered that there was “nothing” she could “talk about today,” according to The Christian Post.
Just a day before Netflix’s family-themed announcement, the streaming service faced controversy for a new, flattering documentary about the highly controversial Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, out Aug. 1. This is in addition to the controversial series “Insatiable,” which is currently being called out for body-shaming, and the talk show featuring comedienne Michelle Wolf, who skewered President Donald Trump and press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner and also aired a “Salute to Abortion” show in July. Wolf’s show was cancelled over the weekend.
View AFA’s Action Alert on the “Desire” film here, which details how concerned citizens can directly contact Sessions. Learn more about AFA’s efforts regarding “13 Reasons Why” here.
American Family Association representatives are available to conduct immediate breaking news interviews via its LTN line at AFA studio headquarters. Contact Media@HamiltonStratetgies.com for more information or call 610.584.1096, ext. 102.
View the media page for AFA here. For more information on American Family Association, visit www.afa.net or follow AFA on Facebook or on Twitter @AmericanFamAssc.
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To interview a representative from the American Family Association, contact Deborah Hamilton, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, 610.584.1096, ext. 102, or Emily Brunner, ext. 100.
