'Speaking facts': 'You' star Penn Badgley praised after CRITICIZING Netflix for glamorizing serial killers like Dahmer

In the interview, Badgley also held Netflix responsible for making people fall in love with serial killers like Dahmer and Bundy
UPDATED FEB 14, 2023
Penn Badgley (Joe Goldberg) and Evan Peters (Jeffrey Dahmer) (Netflix)
Penn Badgley (Joe Goldberg) and Evan Peters (Jeffrey Dahmer) (Netflix)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: In recent years, there has been a massive influx of true-crimes projects and without any guesses, those titles have managed to glamorize people who killed several people in their lifetime. Whether it was Ted Bundy or Jeffrey Dahmer, a certain section of society started sympathizing with such ruthless killers after watching a wide range of titles based on their disgraceful lives. A lot of family members of the victims of Dahmer slammed Netflix for making a series that made the serial killer such a 'cool' guy and it seems 'YOU' star Penn Badgley also doesn't like such criminals being glamorized in today's world.

Interestingly, Badgley portrays the role of a killer named Joe Goldberg in the Netflix series 'YOU' and garnered a lot of praise for it. However, there are a lot of differences between Joe Goldberg and Jeffrey Dahmer. There have been a lot of times when Badgley has come forward and criticized the people for rooting for his character, making people believe that the series is not a romanticization of the actions of the show's protagonist. The actor is leaving no stone unturned to make people realize how dangerous it can be for the entire society.

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Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg in 'YOU' Season 4 Episode 2 (Netflix)
Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg in 'YOU' Season 4 Episode 2 (Netflix)

Penn Badgley criticizes Netflix for glamorizing serial killers

While speaking in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, 'YOU' star criticized Netflix for giving a platform to stories that capitalize on public fascination with serial killers. He also noted that people are meant to fall in love with Joe and he, along with the makers of 'YOU', takes full responsibility for that. However, when it comes to people like Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer, it's Netflix that should introspect.

"You need to look inside… With our show, you’re meant to fall in love with him, that’s on us. Ted Bundy? That’s on you. Jeffrey Dahmer? That’s on Netflix. That is squarely on the shoulders of Netflix. I don't have answers at this point, actually, I do but they are long. Yeah, it's weird man," Goldberg said.

Badgley didn't shy away from criticizing people as well for their inexplicable love for such a terrifying character that allowed Netflix to follow such stories and made titles that will force everyone to sympathize with criminals.

Fans 'hailed' King Penn for speaking the facts

As soon as Badgley's comments surfaced online, people started praising the actor for spitting out the truth. One of the fans tweeted, "Every time Penn speaks, it’s always facts." Another social media user tweeted, "I really don’t understand how people find Dahmer charming and fall for him. I only felt disgusted and traumatized." Another fan wrote, "he isn't shying away from speaking his point of view."



 



 



 

"The only Netflix actor who speaks FACTS I have so much respect for him," wrote another user. "Speak your truth king," tweeted another fan. "Well said. Joe is fictional & it's understood the show has twisted, dark humor. Dahmer lived & VIOLATED & MURDERED actual living human beings who have family witnessing yall falling in "love". Adding insult because he got away for so long because he preyed on boys & gay men," wrote another user.



 



 



 

This is not the first time Netflix is being criticized for promoting content about horrifying real-life criminals. Families of victims of Jeffrey Dahmer slammed the creator Ryan Murphy for making them relive that trauma once again. Despite so much backlash, Evan Peters, who played Dahmer in the series, received the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television film for his performance. Shockingly, the public's fascination for serial killers is getting stronger with each passing day.

Ryan Murphy attending an event (Jason Laveris/Getty Images) and the official poster of 'Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story' (Netflix)
Ryan Murphy attending an event (Jason Laveris/Getty Images) and the official poster of 'Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story' (Netflix)

As far as 'YOU' is concerned, Season 4 of the Netflix series has received positive reviews from critics as well as audiences and currently holds a rating of 90% on the review site Rotten Tomatoes.

The first five episodes of 'YOU' Season 4 are currently streaming on Netflix and the next batch of episodes will arrive on March 9.

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