’13 Reasons Why’ Cuts Suicide Scene Following Backlash

The original Netflix series, 13 Reasons Why, has cut one of its most controversial scenes.

Netflix announced on Twitter Tuesday that the show would no longer be showing Hannah Baker, played by Katherine Langford, taking her own life on-screen.

“We’ve heard from many young people that Thirteen Reasons Why encouraged them to start conversations about difficult issues like depression and suicide and get help – often for the first time,” the post read. “As we prepare to launch Season 3 later this summer, we’ve been mindful about the ongoing debate around the show. So on the advice of medical experts, including Dr. Christine Moutier, Chief Medical Officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, we’ve decided with creator Brian Yorkey and the producers of 13 Reasons Why to edit the scene in which Hannah takes her own life from Season 1.”

The streaming service captioned the post with, “An update on 13 Reasons Why. If you or someone you know needs help finding crisis resources please visit 13reasonswhy.info.”

The official 13 Reasons Why Twitter account also tweeted Brian Yorkey‘s statement about removing the controversial scene.

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“It was our hope, in making 13 Reasons Why into a television show, to tell a story that would help young viewers feel seen and heard,” read the statement. “and encourage empathy in all who viewed it, much as the bestselling book did before us. Our creative intent in portraying the ugly, painful reality of suicide in such graphic detail in Season 1 was to tell the truth about the horror of such an act, and make sure no one would ever wish to emulate it. But as we ready to launch Season 3, we have heard concerns about the scene from Dr. Christine Moutier at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and others, and have agreed with Netflix to re-edit it,” the statement continued. “No one scene is more important than the life of the show, and its message that we must take better care of each other. We believe this edit will help the show do the most good for the most people while mitigating any risk for especially vulnerable young viewers.”

The edited scene now ends with a shot of Langford staring at herself in the mirror before her death appears off-screen.

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The show, that was released in 2017, received a lot of backlash for its portrayal of suicide, rape, and violence. It has even been reported that the show caused a huge suicide spike of children from the ages of 10 to 17 following the release of the show.