Selena Gomez has discussed the mixed responses to 13 Reasons Why in a recent radio interview, and defended the Netflix series’ depiction of suicide. 

Gomez told American radio host Elvis Duran that the series, on which she serves as executive producer, was right to depict the lead character’s death in an “honest” way.

“The content is complicated. It’s dark and it has moments that are honestly very hard to swallow, and I understood that we were doing something that is difficult,” Gomez says. 

“But these kids today are so exposed to things that I would never even comprehend when I was eight.”

She described the experiences of a cousin who teaches young children, who told her “they’re doing things, insane things, that I couldn’t even fathom.

“And I thought, if this is what we’re going to talk about, we might as well do it in a way that is going to be honest, is going to be real, and it stays true to the book.”

She went on to describe how exactly the show’s second outing will compose itself, calling each character’s progress “encouraging and empowering”, and that “we’re going to actually answer a lot of those questions, and a lot of resolutions for those characters are going to come.”

It’s not the first time Gomez has reacted to the show’s mixed reception, either. Earlier this year, Gomez countered the wave of criticism which smashed the show’s depiction of suicide by saying it’s “going to come no matter what.

“It’s not an easy subject to talk about, but I’m very fortunate with how it’s doing.”

You can catch the most recent chat, in which she also discusses her relationship with social media, immediately below. Skip to the 9:29 mark to catch the 13 Reasons Why discussion.

Source: Elvis Duran Show / YouTube.
Photo: Axelle / Bauer-Griffin / Getty.

If you or someone you know is dealing with a mental illness, call BeyondBlue on 1300 22 4636. If you are in distress, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

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