Peruvian man commits suicide, leaves behind tapes imitating ‘13 Reasons Why’
Franco Alonso Lazo Medrano, 23, an industrial engineer, jumped from the fourth floor of his apartment building
Hannah Baker in 13 Reasons Why PHOTO: NETFILX
Art and life have an interdependent relationship. Sometimes, art mimics life and at times, life mimics art. In the example of the later, a Peruvian man committed suicide and left audiotapes to those who reportedly drove him to death, in a move eerily similar to Netflix’s latest hit series 13 Reasons Why, according to Daily Mail.
Franco Alonso Lazo Medrano, 23, an industrial engineer, jumped from the fourth floor of his apartment building, according to Peruvian media outlet Diario Clarin. He survived the jump but died later at the hospital.
Medrano reportedly yelled: “I can’t stand a heartbreak,” when he jumped. His mother was allegedly present during the act. Peruvian police reportedly discovered two suicide notes; one to a woman named Claudia and the other a letter listing names of people who caused him to kill himself and for whom he had recorded tapes, according to Refinery29.
Is '13 Reasons Why' glorifying suicide among teens?
It is still unclear if Medrano was really inspired by the series or not. Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why tells a similar story of Hanna Baker, a teenager who takes her own life after recording tapes for her friends to listen to after her death. The series has amassed massive global popularity but at the same time, received criticism for its portrayal of suicide.
According to the National Association of School Psychologists, many parents have been concerned that the show might trigger the children who have suicidal thoughts. It has also attracted criticism for not initially including advisories about its potentially upsetting content and offering viewers information about suicide prevention.
The streaming service later took the controversy on board and added an advisory. “There has been a tremendous amount of discussion about our series, 13 Reasons Why,” Netflix said in a statement to People. “While many of our members find the show to be a valuable driver for starting an important conversation with their families, we have also heard concern from those who feel the series should carry additional advisories.”
The show’s co-creator Selena Gomez has also defended the show, saying, “I understood that we were going into something that is difficult, but these kids today are so exposed to things that I would never even have comprehended when I was eight.”
US school removes ‘13 Reasons Why’ book from libraries as it 'romanticises suicide'
“I feel like if this is what we are going to talk about, we might as well do it in a way that's going to be honest, it's going to be real, and it stays true to the book. I think that stuff is uncomfortable for people to talk about, but it is happening and hopefully it opened the door for people to actually accept what's happening and actually go and change it, talk about it,” she told The Elvis Duran Show.
Some detractors of the show criticised this aspect specifically, as they believed it suggested that suicide was sometimes "justified”. A Canadian school is even attempting to ban students from talking about the series, and mental health organisations say the show is dangerous to those who are already at risk.
With the latest incident of Medrano’s suicide, 13 Reasons Why could find itself in big trouble.
Have something to add in the story? Share it in the comments below.
Franco Alonso Lazo Medrano, 23, an industrial engineer, jumped from the fourth floor of his apartment building, according to Peruvian media outlet Diario Clarin. He survived the jump but died later at the hospital.
Medrano reportedly yelled: “I can’t stand a heartbreak,” when he jumped. His mother was allegedly present during the act. Peruvian police reportedly discovered two suicide notes; one to a woman named Claudia and the other a letter listing names of people who caused him to kill himself and for whom he had recorded tapes, according to Refinery29.
Is '13 Reasons Why' glorifying suicide among teens?
It is still unclear if Medrano was really inspired by the series or not. Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why tells a similar story of Hanna Baker, a teenager who takes her own life after recording tapes for her friends to listen to after her death. The series has amassed massive global popularity but at the same time, received criticism for its portrayal of suicide.
According to the National Association of School Psychologists, many parents have been concerned that the show might trigger the children who have suicidal thoughts. It has also attracted criticism for not initially including advisories about its potentially upsetting content and offering viewers information about suicide prevention.
The streaming service later took the controversy on board and added an advisory. “There has been a tremendous amount of discussion about our series, 13 Reasons Why,” Netflix said in a statement to People. “While many of our members find the show to be a valuable driver for starting an important conversation with their families, we have also heard concern from those who feel the series should carry additional advisories.”
The show’s co-creator Selena Gomez has also defended the show, saying, “I understood that we were going into something that is difficult, but these kids today are so exposed to things that I would never even have comprehended when I was eight.”
US school removes ‘13 Reasons Why’ book from libraries as it 'romanticises suicide'
“I feel like if this is what we are going to talk about, we might as well do it in a way that's going to be honest, it's going to be real, and it stays true to the book. I think that stuff is uncomfortable for people to talk about, but it is happening and hopefully it opened the door for people to actually accept what's happening and actually go and change it, talk about it,” she told The Elvis Duran Show.
Some detractors of the show criticised this aspect specifically, as they believed it suggested that suicide was sometimes "justified”. A Canadian school is even attempting to ban students from talking about the series, and mental health organisations say the show is dangerous to those who are already at risk.
With the latest incident of Medrano’s suicide, 13 Reasons Why could find itself in big trouble.
Have something to add in the story? Share it in the comments below.