#SaveTheSociety: Netflix cancels ‘The Society’, ‘I Am Not Okay With This’, Angry Internet slams ‘Riverdale’
If you were wondering how bad can this year get, it seems there is more bad news in store. Netflix shows ‘The Society’ and ‘I Am Not Okay With This’ have been canceled by the streaming website, as reported by Deadline. Even though ‘I Am Not Okay With It’ was renewed after its debut in February, no official announcement was made. On the other hand, ‘The Society’ was renewed for a second season in July last year and was scheduled to premiere in late 2020, as per the report. They were looking at starting production next month, according to Deadline. While, according to Variety, the ‘I Am Not Okay With This’ team had started writing work for the new season.
According to Deadline, sources state that the uncertainty around production dates and trying to accommodate a large cast like ‘The Society’, topped with unexpected budget increases due to the pandemic, led the streaming site to ax the two shows, which received mostly positive feedback from critics and audiences and even strong support at Netflix.
The report quoted a statement from Netflix, which said, “We’ve made the difficult decision not to move forward with second seasons of ‘The Society’ and ‘I Am Not Okay With This’. We’re disappointed to have to make these decisions due to circumstances created by COVID, and we are grateful to these creators, including Jonathan Entwistle, Christy Hall, Shawn Levy, Dan Levine, Dan Cohen and Josh Barry at 21 Laps Entertainment for ‘I Am Not Okay With This’; Chris Keyser, Marc Webb and Pavlina Hatoupis for ‘The Society’; and all the writers, casts and crews who worked tirelessly to make these shows for our members around the world.”
‘The Society’ cast member Kathryn Newton, who played Abbie Pressman in the show, reacted to the news by tweeting a photo of her fellow cast members with the caption: “I Am Proud #TheSociety”.
❤️ I am proud #thesociety pic.twitter.com/PxS51xRmft
— KATHRYN NEWTON (@kathrynnewton) August 21, 2020
She also addresses it on her Instagram account in a video. She can be heard saying she is "heartbroken". She was joined by co-star Gideon Adlon. Adlon said, "It’s definitely a bit of a gut-punch. It’s a big bummer. But this is the way things work sometimes. We have no control over it.". She also added, "I’m sorry we left it on such a cliffhanger; we didn’t want that."
However, fans and Twitterati expressed their displeasure about the cancellation news. One said, "Even the Riverdale cast doesn’t want to do the show anymore just let them end it and renew The Society."
even the riverdale cast doesn’t want to do the show anymore just let them end it and renew the society pic.twitter.com/eA8FIEDsmy
— ً (@celestialjuIia) August 21, 2020
One slammed the decision by stating, "Are you telling me that after a year of making us wait they canceled the society? the cast deserves better, stop renewing sh**s like riverdale or the kissing booth and canceling series with good potential that can contribute something positive #savethesociety #RenewTheSociety."
are you telling me that after a year of making us wait they canceled the society? the cast deserves better, stop renewing shits like riverdale or the kissing booth and canceling series with good potential that can contribute something positive #savethesociety #RenewTheSociety pic.twitter.com/D2hiTMlHbf
— rachel SAVE THE SOCIETY (@dearbingham) August 21, 2020
Another wrote: "So y’all cancel #iamnotokaywiththis and #TheSociety which are the only good shows I watch on Netflix but decide to approve a movie about 11-year-olds in a twerking competition? Come on now."
So y’all cancel #iamnotokaywiththis and #TheSociety which are the only good shows I watch on Netflix but decide to approve a movie about 11 year olds in a twerking competition? Come on now pic.twitter.com/zNkNK9aew7
— Melanie⁷🇿🇦🇿🇼|| YoonbumDeservedBetter (@jinsays_stob_it) August 21, 2020
Another said, "So they’re really gonna cancel The Society acting like they didn’t leave us on that big ass cliff hanger like PLEASE I NEED to know what happens we’d been waiting a whole year for season two you can’t do this to us Netflix."
So they’re really gonna cancel The Society acting like they didn’t leave us on that big ass cliff hanger like PLEASE I NEED to know what happens we’d been waiting a whole year for season two you can’t do this to us Netflix pic.twitter.com/2mguAjsEbm
— Madison Shuemak (@ShuemakD) August 21, 2020
Another commented, "Netflix decided to cancel an amazing show with such great representation of the LGBT+ community but not a movie that sexualizes minors?? #iamnotokaywiththis."
netflix decided to cancel an amazing show with such great representation of the LGBT+ community but not a movie that sexualizes minors?? #iamnotokaywiththis pic.twitter.com/Zx4UmYfFEG
— ᴍᴀʏᴀ🌱 like rt 📌 (@0IKAWAWRLD) August 21, 2020
An angry fan wrote: "So you’re telling me that Netflix has the AUDACITY to cancel #iamnotokaywiththis and the society.. BUT NOT RIVERDALE?!?!"
so you’re telling me that Netflix has the AUDACITY to cancel #iamnotokaywiththis and the society.. BUT NOT RIVERDALE?!?! pic.twitter.com/SCZI2WdEo1
— 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐚 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨¹ᴰ◟̽◞̽²⁸ (@infinitymvxx) August 21, 2020
One user said, “Netflix I beg you if you can make 5+ Riverdale seasons and 3 Kissing booth movies you can make a season 2 of The Society that you promised us. You really gonna let us down like this??? Stop being like this and stop starting shows to cancel them after. It’s stupid #savethesociety”
Netflix I beg you if you can make 5+ Riverdale seasons and 3 Kissing booth movies you can make a season 2 of The Society that you promised us. You really gonna let us down like this??? Stop being like this and stop starting shows to cancel them after. It’s stupid #savethesociety pic.twitter.com/AUsHEN5ocF
— Netflix is a dumb bitch😌✊🏼✨✨ (@HimchanPastel) August 21, 2020
Another said, “Netflix played the society fans so hard! Renewing it for season 2 then reversing the decision and canceling it! #savethesociety”
Netflix played the society fans so hard! Renewing it for season 2 then reversing the decision and cancelling it!🤦🏾♂️#savethesociety
— Chid (@Chidemordi) August 21, 2020
pic.twitter.com/NDxyd6rKkk
One said, "Sad how netflix knew the society would be to powerful for a second season that they decided to cancel it ??? bullsh*t. #savethesociety"
sad how netflix knew the society would be to powerful for a second season that they decided to cancel it ??? bullshit. #savethesociety pic.twitter.com/ylRr7pSuq4
— chef cale 🐍 | (@calesreputation) August 21, 2020
'The Society' followed a group of teenagers who are transported to an exact copy of their wealthy New England town without any adults. The story focused on their struggles to survive in the new situation and trying to find out what happened to their parents. The cast included Newton, Gideon Adlon, Sean Berdy, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Jacques Colimon, Olivia DeJonge, Alex Fitzalan, Grace Victoria Cox, Emilio Garcia Sanchez, and Olivia Nikkanen. It was created by Chris Keyser.
'I Am Not Okay With This' was co-created by Jonathan Entwistle and Christy Hall based on the Charles Forsman graphic novel. It followed a teenage girl who develops mysterious superpowers and also how she adjusts to high school while dealing with complex issues at home and issues related to her sexuality.