Netflix has removed its “LGBTQ+” tag from Ryan Murphy’s new Jeffrey Dahmer series after subscriber backlash.
Anyone who has ever clicked on the “LGBTQ” tab on just about any streaming service knows that the offerings can range from disappointing to just plain baffling, with seemingly anything that could be considered even remotely gay-ish lumped together in the category. But Netflix subscribers were particularly disturbed to find Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story amongst the streamer’s queer films and TV series.
If I need to stay in my lane absolutely tell me but anyone else think it's pretty gross of @netflix to list Dahmer under #LGBTQ, especially when the True Crime tag would have worked? pic.twitter.com/wPzwc2oOKP
— Frances *Deadly SoverAuntie* Danger (@FrancesMFDanger) September 21, 2022
imagine clicking on the "LGBTQ" category and this is what you get pic.twitter.com/DenEW0DzOd
— Quinton Reviews🎬 (@Q_Review) September 21, 2022
The fact that they have this Dahmer docuseries under LGBT is really taking me OUT 😭😭😭
— pure honey 🍯✨ (@1trystn) September 21, 2022
they cannot be marketing the new dahmer series as lgbt that is so fucked
— noahhh ♡ (@tamponxteabag) September 21, 2022
“This is not the representation we’re looking for,” one TikTok user said in a post.
The series became the #1 show on Netflix last week, and according to Variety, it was the most talked-about show on social media that week as well. According to Netflix’s official description, “The series examines the gruesome and horrific true crimes of Jeffrey Dahmer and the systemic failures that enabled one of America’s most notorious serial killers to continue his murderous spree in plain sight for over a decade.”
Never Miss a Beat
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights.
“It’s called The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, but it’s not just him and his backstory,” Evan Peters, who stars as Dahmer in the series, said in a promotional video released by Netflix. “It’s the repercussions, it’s how society and our system failed to stop him multiple times because of racism, homophobia. It’s just a tragic story.”
But many on social media have countered that casting Peters, who has become something of a sex symbol for his roles in other Murphy productions, as Dahmer glamorizes the serial killer who brutally murdered 17 men and boys, most of whom were people of color.
#DahmerNetflix is out, let’s not romanticize Jeffrey Dahmer just because he is played by Evan Peters.
Remember the victims.
A tread about each victim and who they were. pic.twitter.com/3NAZpG40Dq— hot girl jo (@sicssorluv) September 21, 2022
Meanwhile, the families of some of Dahmer’s victims have spoken out about feeling exploited and retraumatized by the series.
“When I saw some of the show, it bothered me,” Rita Isbell, the sister of Dahmer victim Errol Lindsey, told Insider. “It’s sad that they’re just making money off of this tragedy.”
I’m not telling anyone what to watch, I know true crime media is huge rn, but if you’re actually curious about the victims, my family (the Isbell’s) are pissed about this show. It’s retraumatizing over and over again, and for what? How many movies/shows/documentaries do we need? https://t.co/CRQjXWAvjx
— eric. (@ericthulhu) September 22, 2022
Don't forget to share:
