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13 Reasons Why was one of 2017’s most talked-about shows, but the discourse wasn’t entirely positive. The Netflix drama, which deals with the aftermath of a teenager’s suicide, courted acclaim and controversy in nearly equal measure for its treatment of that difficult subject matter. Ahead of its upcoming second season, the show now comes with an official video warning that it “may not be right for you.”
Dylan Minnette, Katherine Langford, Justin Prentice, and Alisha Boe appear as themselves in the video, which warns that the show “tackles tough real-world issues.” “If you’re struggling with these issues yourself,” says Boe, “this series may not be right for you, or you may want to watch it with a trusted adult.”
“Soon after the Season 1 launch, we saw global conversation explode on the controversial topics covered by the series and understood we had a responsibility to support these important discussions,” Brian Wright, Netflix’s vice president of original series, said in a statement.
Netflix previously commissioned a study by Northwestern University’s Center on Media and Human Development, which found that “71% of teens and young adults found the show relatable, and nearly three-quarters of teen and young adult viewers said the show made them feel more comfortable processing tough topics.”
The study — which never mentions the word “suicide” — concludes, “The hope is that the steps we’re taking now will help support more meaningful conversations as Season 2 rolls out later this year. We’ve seen in our research that teens took positive action after watching the series, and now – more than ever – we are seeing the power and compassion of this generation advocating on behalf of themselves and their peers.”
