Netflix has removed a tag categorising its new series Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story as LGBTQ following an online backlash.
The drama series focuses on the real life case of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, portrayed by Evan Peters. Dahmer murdered 17 men and boys between the years 1978 and 1991. He was arrested in 1991 and was murdered in prison three years later.
It has been speculated that the reason the series was initially marked “LGBTQ” was that many of Dahmer’s victims were LGBTQ, or because of Dahmer’s own sexuality. The reason remains unconfirmed by Netflix.
Prior to the tag’s removal, the strange categorisation choice had picked up a fair amount of criticism on social media. “No way they put an LGBTQ tag on the new Dahmer series like PLEASE,” one person wrote.
“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,” another commented. It’s not just the tag that has provoked a backlash. Many Netflix viewers have disclosed that they found the series’ gruesome murder scenes too much to handle.
A relative of one of Jeffrey Dahmer’s victims has also spoken out, accusing the series of “retraumatising” their family. One courtroom scene has gone viral using a side-by-side comparison to the actual 1992 trial. In it, Rita Isbell (portrayed by DaShawn Barnes), the older sister of 19-year-old victim Errol Lindsey, is seen yelling in agony during her trial statement.
Lindsey was strangled to death after Dahmer’s alleged experiment to keep him in a permanent zombie-like state, by drilling holes into his head and pouring hydrochloric acid into it, failed. “I’m not telling anyone what to watch, I know true crime media is huge right now, but if you’re actually curious about the victims, my family (the Isbells) are pissed about this show,” one account, named Ericthulu, tweeted on Thursday (22 September), alongside the viral clip.
