Netflix has removed an LGBTQ tag from its latest Ryan Murphy-created true-crime drama, following widespread backlash.
“Monster: The Jeffery Dahmer Story” tells the chilling story of one of the nation’s most notorious serial killers, who killed 17 men and boys, some as young as 14, between 1978 and 1991. Most of them were people of color.
The series, which is currently Netflix’s most watched show in the U.S. and several other countries, premiered on Friday.
As some viewers pointed out on social media, Netflix used an “LGBTQ” tag to categorize the series. But shortly after its debut, several Twitter users were quick to slam the streamer’s decision, pointing out that it was “pretty gross” for Netflix to “list Dahmer under #LGBTQ, especially when the True Crime tag would have worked,” as Twitter user @FrancesMFDanger wrote.
“Imagine clicking on the ‘LGBTQ’ category and this is what you get,” @Q_Review tweeted, sharing a promo photo of the show.
“Why the f— did Netflix tag the Jeffrey Dahmer [show] LGBTQ?” @lizthelezbo said on TikTok. “Like I know it’s technically true, but this is not the representation we’re looking for.”
While it’s unclear when exactly Netflix dropped the “LGBTQ” tag, the streamer has apparently listened to the criticism and changed how it categorizes the show.
The 10-part series, starring Evan Peters as the infamous killer, is told from the point of view of the victims. Despite receiving a score of just 46% in the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the show rose to the top of Variety’s Trending TV chart following its debut on Friday with more than 918,000 engagements on Twitter.
Shortly after its premiere, relatives of some victims took to social media to express anger at Netflix for having them relive such painful moments.
“It’s retraumatizing over and over again, and for what?” a relative of one of the victims, Eric Perry, said on Twitter. “How many movies/shows/documentaries do we need?”
Netflix said in a synopsis that the series “exposes these unconscionable crimes, centered around the underserved victims and their communities impacted by the systemic racism and institutional failures of the police that allowed one of America’s most notorious serial killers to continue his murderous spree in plain sight for over a decade.”
Some critics, as well as other social media users, however, have criticized Netflix for the glorification of the Milwaukee murderer, calling out the streaming service for its “sick” retelling of events.
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