‘13 Reasons Why’ producer Mandy Teefey has defended the show after fans criticised the graphic content in the series two finale, in which one character is sexually assaulted.
Many viewers were left questioning whether ‘13 Reasons Why’ had crossed a line with the scene, debating whether its graphic depiction of Tyler’s rape bordered on gratuitous, particularly after he was then seen taking a rifle to school with him in the wake of the attack.
However, Mandy has urged anyone offended by the show to “Google the news”, insisting the Netflix series mirrors what is happening in the real world.
“There’s nothing that anybody ever has put or had the desire in our group to make anything gratuitous or shock value,” she told Entertainment Tonight. “It’s shocking, it’s horrific, but it’s happening.
“There’s videos that people post and that’s online forever. It’s [in] the culture, so just look it up and educate yourself that you need to look out for this.”
She added: “I think it made a connection, whether they wanted to make it or not. The fact that we’re talking about it and that is was so talked about, that was our goal.”
The first run of ‘13 Reasons Why’ came under similar scrutiny, although that was for a graphic scene depicting teen suicide, rather than the horrific scene of sexual assault which has been a talking point in series two.
A premiere event for the series two of ’13 Reasons Why’ was cancelled last week out of sensitivity, following the Santa Fe High School shooting, which took the lives of 10 victims.
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