13 Reasons Why remove graphic Hannah Baker suicide scene ahead of season 3

16 July 2019, 11:48

By Sam Prance

Netflix first faced backlash over the 13 Reasons Why death scene back in 2017.

The creators of 13 Reasons Why have edited out Hannah Baker's suicide scene from season 1 of the Netflix series.

As soon as 13 Reasons Why was released in 2017, it divided viewers. Some people praised the show for addressing serious issues like teen suicide, bullying and rape, while others accused the teen drama of sensationalising these topics and being very triggering to anyone who's experienced these things. One scene in particular, which graphically depicted the lead Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford) killing herself, was heavily criticised.

READ MORE: 13 Reasons Why season 3: Release date, cast, trailers and everything you need to know

Now the team behind 13 Reasons Why have removed that scene from the show ahead of season 3's release date.

In a new statement, Netflix explained their decision to cut the scene. They said: "We’ve heard from many young people that 13 Reasons Why encouraged them to start conversations about difficult issues like depression and suicide and get help – often for the first time. As we prepare to launch season three later this summer, we’ve been mindful about the ongoing debate around the show."

The team then went on to reveal: "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 to edit the scene in which Hannah takes her own life."

If you watch season 1, episode 13 now, you simply see Clay tell Mr. Porter: "she went into the bathroom and died alone." The scene then cuts to Hannah's parents finding her dead in the bath. You no longer see the horrifying sequence in which Hannah slits her own wrists and dies.

The decision has been met with positive feedback on social media but many people are calling out Netflix for only doing this two years after the initial backlash. What's more, the show still includes graphic rape scenes (Jessica and Hannah are both raped by Bryce in season 1 and Montgomery rapes Tyler with a broom in season 2).

Netflix has gradually made efforts to be more responsible with how they air 13 Reason Why. Shortly after season 1 debuted, the show changed its trigger warnings and season 2 opened with a video warning about the series' content. Still, numerous viewers believe that the series itself is too damaging and should be cancelled.

What do you think of 13 Reasons Why?