Issues@Hand

AFA initiatives, Christian activism, news briefs

July 2020 – Season 4 of 13 Reasons Why was set to drop on Netflix June 5. This is the fourth and final season of the controversial series aimed at young adults and known for its profane and gratuitous content.

Season 1 originally included a graphic three-minute scene of a teenager committing suicide. Due to reports of copycat suicides allegedly linked to the show as well as a backlash from AFA, other pro-family groups, mental health professionals, and concerned families, producers decided to delete the suicide scene. (See AFA Journal 5/18, 6/19, 10/19.)

However, they did not shy away from controversial content. Seasons 2 and 3 include multiple sex scenes, rape, sodomy, drug use, homosexuality, pornography, profanity, murder, mental illness, deceit, and more. Season 2 depicts an attempted school shooting, and Season 3 shows a teenager having an abortion. (See AFA Journal 8/18, 11/19.)

“We can only expect the same filth and perversion – to the nth degree – in the fourth season,” said AFA vice president Ed Vitagliano. “It comes as no surprise that Netflix chose to release it during the COVID-19 pandemic when people are confined to their homes and looking for something to watch.”

At press time, the first three seasons of 13 Reasons Why were still streaming on Netflix.