Calls Intensify to Cancel ‘13 Reasons Why’ After Airing of Controversial Season Two

TUPELO, Miss.—Renewed calls for the cancellation of the controversial Netflix teen series “13 Reasons Why” are intensifying. The finale episode of season two, which debuted May 18, featured a violent bathroom sexual assault on a male student, and now others besides the American Family Association (AFA, www.afa.net) are saying cancellation is in order.

This spring, AFA reached out to families to help urge the streaming service to pull “13 Reasons Why” before the second season aired. The Netflix series has been criticized for glorifying suicide, and also includes strong language, sexuality and extremely adult situations.

According to a recent Fox News article, Twitter users called the violent and bloody attack in the episode in question “insensitive” and commented, “Netflix better cancel ‘13 Reasons Why.’ I don’t ever want to see anything like season 2 again.” In a separate Fox News story, a Florida mother says the show influenced her daughter to attempt suicide on Mother’s Day when she tried to mimic the show’s main character from season one, Hannah Baker. Fox also reported that two California families have blamed the show for the deaths of their daughters, stating it acted as a trigger for the depressed teens.

“Even the mainstream media is now publicizing the potential dangers of ‘13 Reasons Why,’” said AFA President Tim Wildmon, “and some schools here in America and abroad have sent home letters to warn parents about the series. These dangers are very real. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that suicide has risen to become the second-leading cause of death among teenagers. Asking Netflix to drop this dangerous series is the right thing to do, and even though the second season is now streaming, it’s not too late to sign the AFA petition—and then share it as a way to warn other friends, family and church members about the dangers of ‘13 Reasons Why.’”

AFA has been working with the Bright family, whose 14-year-old daughter, Anna, committed suicide two weeks after binge-watching season one of “13 Reasons Why.” After hearing the Bright family’s plea to help tell Anna’s story, AFA President Tim Wildmon sent a private letter to Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, respectfully asking for a short meeting to discuss AFA’s concerns. The request was ignored. Now, AFA continues to work to stop season two of “13 Reasons Why,” especially now that the new shows are airing, by encouraging families to sign a petition urging Netflix to pull the series. More than 61,000 have signed.

Visit the AFA’s Action Alert on “13 Reasons Why” and view the article about the Bright family in AFA Journal.

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.