Not only has Katherine Langford received criticism for being nominated for a Golden Globe as leading actress in the show, but a father has expressed his anger towards Selena Gomez, co-executive, after his teenage daughter took her own life after binge watching the show.
If you haven't seen the series, it follows a teenage girl, Hannah Baker, who takes her own life after being bullied by different people at school. She makes cassette tapes dedicated to each person who made her life difficult.
Although it was the most streamed television show of 2017, the show has gained a lot of criticism for being triggering, and glamourising suicide.
John Herndon, the father of his 15-year-old daughter Bella Herndon who took her own life in April, told RadarOnline, "I’m still completely disgusted. Selena makes me sick. She is an extremely disturbed individual to think that this show has any kind of redeeming social value at all."
John believes that the show was a trigger for his daughters death.
He continued, saying, "Remember that there are teens out there that are in a little darker place and these could be your friends, your sisters. Selena Gomez and Netflix need to understand that not everybody’s going to understand this very well. Some people who are battling with depression, this could catch them at the wrong time, creating what is called the trigger event."
John has even contacted Selena and Netflix, asking them to stop supporting the show and to get it removed, however, he never got a response.
"I asked that she remove her support and get Netflix to stop. I received no response. They [Netflix] made those decisions to make themselves look like a socially responsible company yet they are making a product about people who are hurt and how they can hurt themselves...Every day we’re assaulted by these feelings we get for Bella. I can’t control how sick it makes me feel."
John also commented on Selena's recent health struggles, calling her out for the way she handled her kidney transplant.
"She has spared no expense rattling her own saber about her kidney transplant. She talked about how painful it was and spent significant effort getting that ‘oh poor me’ out there. That’s just disgusting."
While John wants action against Selena, the show and Netflix, he realises he cannot sue.
"Suing a billion-dollar company like Netflix is not within my means right now unless there are other like-minded individuals that want to engage collectively together to bring a suit against them." If it were to happen, John would reportedly bring up a wrongful death suit against, "Selena, Netflix, the show director, screenwriter – anybody I could think of."
Our thoughts and prayers go out to John and his family during this time.
If you or someone you know needs help, you can speak confidentially to a trained counsellor 24 hours a day at headspace.org.au or Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800.