Controversial '13 Reasons Why' Suicide Scene Deleted by Netflix after Two Years of Its Airing
Netflix found itself at the thick of a big controversy after their hit show 13 Reasons Why featured the lead character slitting her wrist in a graphic suicide scene. After two years, as the show gears up for a season 3, the suicide scene has been heavily altered by the OTT platform.
The graphics and descriptive scenes in the hit Netflix series 13 Reasons Why have always been a point of debate amongst the netizens. In fact, a study by Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, noted that there has been an increase of 28.9 percent in young suicides following the show. The study was refuted by the creators of the show. Now, after two years of its airing, 13 Reasons Why has removed the controversial suicide scene of the lead character, Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford). The scene in question was extremely graphic and many viewers complained of being uncomfortable after watching it. The original 3-minutes long scene has now been altered to last only merely a few seconds.
The original scene began with Hannah looking into the mirror and then moved on to her slitting her wrist in a bathtub. The water turned red, and then the character's parents walk in to find her lifeless body. The altered version ends right when the character looks at herself in the mirror and cuts to the parents' reaction. 13 Reasons Why Season 2: Viewers are Urging Netflix to Cancel the Show After Finale's Shocking Sexual Assault Scene.
In a statement, Netflix said, "As we prepare to launch season three later this summer, we've been mindful about the ongoing debate around the show. So on the advice of medical experts, including Dr Christine Moutier, chief medical officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, we've decided with creator Brian Yorkey and the producers to edit the scene in which Hannah takes her own life from season one."
The Hollywood Reporter cites a source saying that Netflix will also monitor the internet to make sure the original scene doesn't end up there. The OTT platform will issue take-downs if the clip does surface online again.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 16, 2019 11:11 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).