Netflix boss defends 13 Reasons Why following season 3 announcement: 'Nobody has to watch it'

The controversial series will return to the streaming service in 2019

Netflix has defended its decision to renew 13 Reasons Why for a third season.

Reed Hastings, the streaming service's CEO, jumped to the series' defence after it sparked outrage with a controversial rape scene that viewers branded “horrifying.”

“13 Reasons Why has been enormously popular and successful. It’s engaging content,” he said during the company’s annual shareholder meeting. “It is controversial. But nobody has to watch it.”

The successful series, which sparked controversy in its first season with its depiction of suicide, has come under fire from advocacy groups including Parents Television Council who called for the show's cancellation amid warnings that it could be “a ticking time bomb to teens and children.”

The same advocacy group has now condemned Netflix's decision to renew the series.

“We condemn Netflix for renewing its teen-targeted suicide drama 13 Reasons Why," said PTC president Tim Winter in a statement. “The company already potentially has the blood of children on their hands from keeping this series – with its graphic suicide scene, its sodomisation of a teen boy and a potential school shooting, among other adult content – on its platform for children to view,” Winter said in a statement.

With the arrival of season two came PSA and mature content disclaimers to younger viewers alerting them to watch with an adult - and for good reason: the finale features the graphic rape of a male character named Tyler.

Many used social media to express their shock over the scene, deeming the moment “narratively exploitative” and a tool to set up the season finale cliffhanger which sees the character retaliate by bringing an automatic rifle to the high school dance, scenes which saw the show's premiere cancelled following the tragic school shooting in Santa Fe which left 10 dead.

If you're affected by these issues, visit rapecrisis.org.uk. You can call 0808 802 9999 between 12 noon - 2.30pm and 7 - 9.30pm every day of the year for confidential support and/or information about your nearest services.

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