Content Warning: This article discusses self-harm and suicide. If you or someone you know are affected by the following story, you are not alone. To speak to someone, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14..
Future viewings of 13 Reasons Why are going to be quite different from now on, with Netflix censoring a pivotal – yet controversial – scene in the series’ first season.
Back in March of 2017, Netflix premiered the first season of 13 Reasons Why. An adaptation of Jay Asher’s 2007 novel, the story revolves around the death of student Hannah Baker and the numerous reasons that caused her to take her own life.
Notable for its unflinching portrayal of certain topics, some scenes have been met with extensive criticism, including one from the first season that depicted the suicide of Hannah.
In the scene, Hannah is seen contemplating her life in a bathroom, before cutting her wrist while sitting in the bathtub, only to be found by her mother minutes later.
Graphic and extremely confronting, the footage was noted as being a surprisingly realistic depiction of such an act, with many feeling uncomfortable by its inclusion.
However, it appears that the scene will no longer be available for viewing, with Netflix announcing its removal for fear of glorifying suicide.
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Check out the trailer for 13 Reasons Why:
“We’ve heard from many young people that 13 Reasons Why encouraged them to start conversations about difficult issues like depression and suicide and get help — often for the first time,” Netflix explained in a statement.
“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.”
As The Hollywood Reporter explains, the new version of the sequence excludes the self-mutilation, skipping the entire segment in the bathtub, and jumps from Hannah’s time in front of the mirror to her parents discovering her body.
“It was our hope, in making 13 Reasons Why into a television show, to tell a story that would help young viewers feel seen and heard and encourage empathy in all who viewed it, much as the best-selling book did before us,” added Executive Producer and Showrunner Brian Yorkey.
“Our creative intent in portraying the ugly, painful reality of suicide in such graphic detail in season one was to tell the truth about the horror of such an act and make sure no one would ever wish to emulate it.
“We believe this edit will help the show do the most good for the most people while mitigating any risk for especially vulnerable young viewers.”
While censorship is indeed a divisive topic, especially in regards to such a sensitive topic, fans of the show have taken to Reddit to lament such a decision.
While some have noted the scene in question helped them realise the real-word ramifications such an act would have, others stated their belief the offending scene should still be included through an opt-in system.
This news comes months after it was revealed that 13 Reasons Why had actually been linked to a spike in teen suicide.
A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry claimed that in the month following the show’s debut in March 2017, there was a 28.9% increase in suicide amongst Americans aged 10-17 – a number higher than that seen in any other month over the five-year period.
