American Family Association: It’s Still Not Too Late to Pull the Plug on ‘13 Reasons Why’
TUPELO, Miss.—All three seasons of the controversial Netflix teen drama “13 Reasons Why” are now streaming and have likely been binge-watched by many young viewers.
Netflix has not only ignored the impassioned requests from American Family Association (AFA, www.afa.net) and other groups to pull the first three seasons, but has forged ahead with the production of Season 4. Although a release date for the forthcoming season hasn’t been announced, AFA says it’s not too late to put a stop to the fourth and final season as well as the streaming of the first three seasons.
“Even though Netflix has announced that Season 4 will, thankfully, be the last of ‘13 Reasons Why,’ enough is enough of this damaging and dark program that does nothing to lift up our younger generations,” said AFA President Tim Wildmon. “Netflix and the writers and producers of the show have ignored stories of suicide from heart-broken families, expert insight that the subject matter has detrimental effects on young minds, and the acknowledgement that the streaming service is blatantly pushing a liberal, death-culture agenda.”
Previously, AFA reported that suicides among U.S. children aged 10 to 17 jumped to a 19-year high in the month following the release of Season 1 of “13 Reasons Why.” During April 2017 alone, 190 U.S. tweens and teens took their own lives, according to a study by Dr. Jeff Bridge. This age group’s April 2017 suicide rate was nearly 30 percent higher than in the preceding five years included in the study. An additional analysis found that the April rate was higher than in the previous 19 years. Season 1 of “13 Reasons Why” released March 31, 2017.
It’s not only conservative Christian groups that take issue with “13 Reasons Why.”
“‘13 Reasons’ is controversial in its depiction of suicide, but [it is also] just a badly written and acted series that has become more ludicrous the longer it’s around,” according to a USA Today post. “There really are zero reasons to watch.”
Rebecca Davis, AFA editor-at-large, agrees. She has viewed and analyzed all three seasons of the series. Season 1 was based on a young adult novel by Jay Asher in which teenager Hannah Baker commits suicide as an act of revenge and leaves behind 13 cassette tapes blaming people for her death. Season 2 explored a myriad of heavy topics related to the aftermath of Hannah’s death, then ended with a graphic rape scene and an attempted school shooting. Season 3 has the homicide of a serial rapist at the helm of its darkness, filth and perversion, and includes an abortion storyline that depicts pro-life advocates in a negative light.
“While AFA is glad to know the end is in sight, in terms of new content, unfortunately the dangerous series remains on Netflix,” Davis added. “That is why AFA is pressing on, now stronger than ever, urging families to put maximum pressure on Netflix to pull all seasons of this series from its streaming service.”
AFA invites parents, grandparents and other family members to learn more about the series and take action regarding “13 Reasons Why” by joining nearly 160,000 others who have signed AFA’s petition to Netflix CEO Reed Hastings.
View the media page for AFA here. For more information on American Family Association, visit www.afa.net or follow AFA onFacebook or on Twitter @AmericanFamAssc.
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To interview a representative from the American Family Association, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Jeff Tolson, 610.584.1096, ext. 108, or ext. 102.
