Actor Devin Druid is opening up about that graphic male rape scene in the season 2 finale of Netflix‘s 13 Reasons Why.
At the 11th Television Academy Honors, Druid was asked about the scene and the backlash it received.
“People are always going to have opinions on the show and what we do,” the 20-year-old said. “But I think it is staying true to what the show’s been about and that has always been taking on these tough issues and trying to show them in these truthful lights.”
Related: “13 Reasons Why” under fire for this incredibly graphic male rape scene
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He continued, “We cannot sugarcoat it or censor it at all because that is not how these events happen. And I think it’s this trying to portray and make people understand what happens in these unfortunate and tragic circumstances.”
The two minute scene is disturbing and difficult to watch. It begins with Tyler Down (played by Druid) having his head bashed into the sink before being dragged to a stall where he has his head dunked in the toilet while being called a “f*ggot.”
As Tyler begs for mercy, two attackers hold him down while the third pulls down his pants and begins violently sodomizing him with a mop handle. Tyler screams out in pain. When the mop is finally removed, it’s covered with blood.
Tyler’s attacker then drops the bloody mop on the ground and the three men exit, leaving him sobbing on the floor, his head resting on the wall of the bathroom stall.
Druid said filming the scene was a challenge and forced him to step outside his comfort zone.
“I felt a lot of responsibility to portray the pain accurately, and humiliation one can go through when they are assaulted in this way,” he explained, “especially with the stigma around sexual assault with men.”
“Especially this age of toxic and fragile masculinity,” he continued. “I think it plays a big part in this idea of men being raped, it isn’t something people think about a lot.”
Related: “13 Reasons Why” creator defends graphic male rape scene
metta
I watched the entire series but turned away at that scene. I hate violence. I’m glad I did not see that part. Ugh!
happiness17
The fact of the matter is that male sexual assault goes on everyday. The perpetrators get away with it. A good example of that is Topher DiMaggio.
Earlier this year one person after another came out stating how Topher
sexually assaulted them. If it were just one or two people then it could be said they were lying. Five or see people have said that Topher assaulted them. I don’t think that all of them are lying. People like DiMaggio continue to get away with assaulting guys.
mueh42
I think you guys missed a big point about 13 reasons why and that is the fact that Hannah obviously had some mental illness such as depression or more and so these events that happened that might not seem as dramatic to you would be devastating to someone with mental illness.
ChiChi Man
The problem has nothing to do with authenticity. The problem is that they depict a graphic male rape (and rape in general) solely for plot purposes and shock value. They save the rape for the final episode of the season (just like last season’s final episode rape). The male survivor never talks about the rape, never processes the rape. We see the sickening act and then SPOILER ALERT – rape is used as the catalyst for a potential mass shooting. Lovely.
They wasted an opportunity to show the after effects of trauma and instead went for a drawn-out, nail-biting cliffhanger. Disgusting. The show is beyond irresponsible, bordering on dangerous, and horribly written.
QueerTruth
Then why have you watched two seasons of it?
ChiChi Man
This is for QueerTruth: I watched the show because I work with queer teens and we talk about queer representation, good and bad. And like many, I’m starved for queer content and keep stupidly hoping that the show would get better. Happy now?
QueerTruth
Hey ChiChi,
Good for you. But dude, if you don’t like the show, don’t watch it.
Tommy
I wish more people would speak out about male sexual assault.
We are only aware that males are sexually assaulted in certain situations: 1) Prisons, 2) Childhood, 3) Bars/Clubs/Parties usually with drugs
Thanos
thnaks for the blog