Netflix cancels '13 Reasons Why' Season 2 premiere after school shooting

Following the Santa Fe High School shooting in Texas that left ten victims dead, Netflix announced that it would cancel the 13 Reasons Why Season 2 premiere event set to take place later that day in Los Angeles on Friday, May 13.

In a statement, the company wrote, "Our hearts are with the victims of the Santa Fe High School shooting, and with all victims of gun violence. In light of today's tragedy, we are cancelling the 13 Reasons Why S2 premiere event tonight."

On Twitter, many of the show's actors also expressed statements of solidarity.

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High school gun violence has been a continued storyline from Season 1 and into Season 2. Many criticized the show last season for its poor handling of the topic, as well as other sensitive topics like the graphic depiction of a character's suicide.

In Season 2, Netflix attempted to address the backlash, promising more content warnings and even adding a content warning video to warn viewers before the show that it "tackles tough, real-world issues, taking a look at sexual assault, substance abuse, suicide, and more." However, the video does not appear to directly refer to the depiction of school violence.

The first season of the hit streaming show included several storylines around gun violence. One involved a character committing suicide with a gun, while another revealed that a bullied student named Tyler (played by Devin Druid) was amassing a huge stockpile of firearms -- clearly implying the threat of a mass school shooting.

Season 2 continued to develop this characterization of Tyler, even featuring a scene where he practices shooting in the woods with a new friend, as well as another plot thread more closely related to school shootings.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Prior to the premiere, Mashable's Rebecca Ruiz reported on "a new toolkit created by dozens of mental health experts" designed to provide help for those distressed by either watching or hearing about the show's "painful subjects, including suicide, depression, bullying, sexual assault, and the threat of school violence."

Mashable reviewer Proma Khosla felt that the show ultimately failed to address these topics more responsibly in Season 2:

In addition to those moments, Season 2 attempts to tackle self-mutilation, the relationship between sex and grief, denial, addiction, guns, deception, infidelity, homelessness, consent, bullying, catfishing, homophobia, and the legal system. It is exhausting, and the generic content warnings and resource links don't necessarily take into account the litany of disturbing topics swirling around in this cocktail.

If you want to talk to someone or are experiencing suicidal thoughts, text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Here is a list of international resources.