Netflix’s true crime series Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story dropped its LGBTQ tag after backlash from the netizens. The Dahmer series is about a white serial killer whose victims were black and brown men.
The series followed the gruesome 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 perspective of the show was seen through the lens of the victims.
LGBTQ Tag Dropped From Dahmer Series
Netflix removed the LGBTQ tag under the series after the viewers condemned it and claimed that this was not the kind of representation they want. Truly, it is vague how Netflix just decided to put the Dahmer series beside shows like Sex Education and Heartstopper.
In a post for Insider, Rita Isbell, sister of one of the victims, revealed that she was never contacted by the show, and she had no idea that Netflix was going to recreate the heinous crime. “I feel like Netflix should’ve asked if we mind or how we felt about making it,” Isbell said.
When Isbell watched the series, she was horrified to see her name on the screen and the woman portraying her saying exactly what she said in her court statement. This brought back unwanted emotions from years ago. Isbell also mentioned that if Netflix made lots of money from the series, they should have at least given a portion of it to the victims’ children and grandchildren.
“If the show benefited them in some way, it wouldn’t feel so harsh and careless. It’s sad that they’re just making money off of this tragedy. That’s just greed,” Isbell added.
Fans Outraged Over Netflix’s Negligence
For some viewers, the show still comes up in the LGBTQ category, even after the removal of the tag. If they would type the tag in the search bar, the Dahmer series still appears. It may take a while for the algorithm to change, but that won’t necessarily make the viewers forget how careless Netflix handled this situation.
The issue also blew up on Twitter, and people condemned Netflix’s action. Check out what they have to say:
they cannot be marketing the new dahmer series as lgbt that is so fucked
— noahhh ♡ (@tamponxteabag) September 21, 2022
keep thinking about netflix tagging the dahmer series as lgbtq+ and howling. do they genuinely think murder and cannibalism are an important part of our culture or pic.twitter.com/4D9qepBiEw
— 𝔧𝔬𝔰𝔥𝔲𝔞 🔮 (@joshcharles_21) September 29, 2022
“allies” (aka netflix) are literally like “lgbt ppl aren’t trying to brainwash your kids they’re just people” AND THEN TAG THE NEE DAHMER SERIES AS LGBTQ+. what the fuck. that narrative about him is so fucking harmful to LGBT people today and simply enables homophobia. pls.
— gabby✨ (@xgabriellaruiz) September 27, 2022
call me sensitive, IDGAF. dahmer jokes aren’t funny. fetishizing him is wack. i’m happy netflix got enough backlash and remove 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 meant to be publicized, and none of the actors were invited for interviews. This could mean that Netflix wanted it to receive as little attention as possible.
The series, although difficult and nauseating to watch, still debuted at No. 1 on Netflix.
