‘13 Reasons Why’ star addresses controversies
Katherine Langford (left) and Alisha Boe in “13 Reasons Why”
13 Reasons Why” actress Alisha Boe, who plays high school student Jessica Davis in the polarizing Netflix series, addressed the controversies it’s been attracting, including the depictions of suicide and rape.
“It shouldn’t be censored at all,” Boe told The Hollywood Reporter. “If you just brush over the suicide scene, the audience would think it was easy. If you brush over the two rape scenes, then the audience would think, ‘Why are these girls freaking out so much?’ Because that’s already the stigma behind it. We have to show how ugly it is, and how much it can affect a person’s life.”
Netflix announced earlier this week that more warnings will be in place to address viewers’ complaints. In a statement, the company said, “While many of our members find the show to be a valuable driver for starting an important conversation with their families, we’ve also heard concerns from those who feel the series should carry additional advisories.”
“13 Reasons Why” is about a teenager, Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford), who commits suicide, leaving behind a list of people who wronged her. Boe, a Norwegian-Somali actress, plays a student who was once friends with Hannah.
Doherty’s cancer in remission
Former “Beverly Hills 90210” actress Shannen Doherty has been battling breast cancer for two years, but she is “overwhelmed” that it is in remission, she announced on Instagram last week. “As every one of my fellow cancer family knows, the next five years is crucial,” she captioned.
“Reoccurrences happen all the time. In the meantime, [there are] decisions to make. I am blessed. But for now … remission. I’m going to just breathe.”
The 46-year-old actress, whose post was deluged with messages of support and relief from fans, ended her announcement with the hashtag, “cancerslayer.”
Actor quits ‘Riverdale’
Ross Butler
Ross Butler is leaving the angsty teen drama “Riverdale,” where he plays high school jock Reggie Mantle. He will not be appearing in the second season, according to show creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, who told TVLine, “We love what Ross did with the role of Reggie, but because of his commitment to other projects, we couldn’t use him nearly as much as we would have liked.” Reggie will be played by another actor.
Butler, meanwhile, is also part of the cast of another angsty teen drama, “13 Reasons Why,” where he plays another athlete, Zach Dempsey.—OLIVER PULUMBARIT
