If you've somehow failed to notice this, everyone on the internet is currently chatting about Netflix's new show, 13 Reasons Why.
It's been praised. Marathon-watched. And, now, heavily criticised, for reasons ranging from their choice to show Hannah Baker's suicide scene to their failure to mention depression or mental illness in the show.
Over in New Zealand, a new classification has been created to warn people about the triggering effects the show may have. Schools are banning all discussion of the show's content. Celebrities and mental health campaigners have taken to Twitter to criticise the show's treatment of suicide and mental illness, urging their followers to either watch the show with caution or skip it entirely.
Now, Selena Gomez, the show's producer, has responded to the recent backlash, saying she's not surprised that there's been some criticism for the show.
"We wanted to do it justice," said Selena in an interview with the Associated Press, adding that the backlash was going to arrive "no matter what."
"It's not an easy subject to talk about, but I'm very fortunate with how it's doing," she added, describing the show as "a beautifully tragic, complicated yet suspenseful story."
In a chat with E! at We Day, Selena added that she wanted the show to come across "in a way that kids would be frightened, but confused - in a way that they would talk about it because it's something that's happening all the time."
That mission, at least, is accomplished. We may not agree with every decision the show's creators made, but the fact that we're all talking about teen suicide - a very real, very common thing that's happening around the world and that needs to be discussed - is worth some credit.
As for a second season, Selena simply said "maybe". Interesting.
