Netflix’s True Crime Series Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story dropped its LGBTQ tag after backlash from netizens. The Dahmer series is about a white serial killer whose victims were black and brown men.
The series followed the horrific crimes of Jeffrey Dahmer, played by Evan Peters, as he tortured and dismembered 17 men between 1978 and 1991. Also starring Niecy Nash, Richard Jenkins and Molly Ringwald, the show’s perspective has seen through the lens of the victims.
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LGBTQ tag removed from Dahmer series
Netflix removed the LGBTQ tag under the series after viewers condemned it and claimed it was not the type of representation they wanted. Really, it’s vague how Netflix just decided to put the Dahmer series alongside shows like Sex education and Heart stroke.
In a post for Initiated, Rita Isbell, sister of one of the victims, revealed that she was never contacted by the show, and had no idea Netflix was going to recreate the heinous crime. “I feel like Netflix should have asked if we mind or how we feel about doing it“Isbell said.
When Isbell watched the show, she was horrified to see her name onscreen and the woman portraying her saying exactly what she said in her court statement. It brought back unwanted emotions from years ago. Isbell also mentioned that if Netflix was making a lot of money from the show, they should have at least given some of it to the children and grandchildren of the victims.
“If the show somehow benefited them, it wouldn’t be so tough and reckless. It’s sad that they just make money from this tragedy. It’s just greed“Isbell added.
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Fans outraged by Netflix’s negligence
For some viewers, the show still appears under the LGBTQ category, even after the tag was removed. If they type the tag into the search bar, the Dahmer series still appears. It may take a while for the algorithm to change, but that won’t necessarily make viewers forget how well Netflix handled this situation.
The issue also exploded on Twitter and people condemned Netflix’s action. Find out what they have to say:
they cant market the new dahmer series as lgbt that is so fucked up
— noahhh ♡ (@tamponxteabag) September 21, 2022
keep thinking about netflix labeling the dahmer series as lgbtq+ and screaming. do they really think murder and cannibalism is an important part of our culture or pic.twitter.com/4D9qepBiEw
— 𝔧𝔬𝔰𝔥𝔲𝔞 🔮 (@joshcharles_21) September 29, 2022
“allies” (aka netflix) is literally like “lgbt people don’t try to brainwash your kids, they’re just people” THEN IDENTIFY NEE DAHMER SERIES AS LGBTQ+. what a mess. this narrative about him is so harmful to LGBT people today and just enables homophobia. please.
— gabby✨ (@xgabriellaruiz) September 27, 2022
call me sensitive, IDGAF. dahmer jokes are not funny. fetishizing it sucks. I’m glad Netflix had enough backlash and removed the LGBTQ+ tag.
—Charlie Gold (@xcharliegoldx) September 29, 2022
Interestingly, the Dahmer series, created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, suddenly came out of nowhere this week. The show was not intended to be publicized and none of the actors were invited for interviews. This could mean Netflix wanted it to get as little attention as possible.
The series, while difficult and nauseating to watch, still debuted at No. 1 on Netflix.
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