jhonny be good

lwac:

The Winter Finale episode that aired on Tuesday, February 21st should have come with a major warning.

As far as I am aware, no warning or disclaimer was included in the airing of this episode.

In the first 10 minutes of the episode, Glee took its viewers on a traumatizing, emotional roller coaster. Dave Karofsky, who used to bully Kurt Hummel for being gay, was transferred to a new school. Word got out that Karofsky was gay, and in a slightly predictable twist, he experienced the same bullying he once inflicted on Kurt. I have no problem with this part of the episode, as a lesbian young woman I think it is important to show what some people have to go through during their own coming out process.

However, what followed next, really bothered me.

Following his bullying, in the first few minutes of the episode, viewers saw Karofsky battle his isolation and depression following being bullied. In what was probably one of the most heart-wrenching slew of scenes, viewers saw him become depressed, feel alone, change into his best suit, tie a noose, and step up to the noose hanging in his closet on a step ladder. The scene cut out before viewers actually saw Karofsky hang himself, but a few minutes later viewers saw the image of his father trying to revive Karaofsky after finding him in his closet. Luckily, unlike many cases, Karofsky survived.

I can’t even begin to explain how emotionally triggering this was, nor how upsetting it was to see this scene on a show I find comfort in.

I normally love Glee, but this episode needed to come with warning BEFORE it aired. Viewers needed to know what they were getting into. Some viewers have had to experience suicide firsthand. Seeing such a graphic episode could really bring back some horrible memories and evoke all sorts of emotions from viewers. I understand that Ryan Murphy and Glee wanted to have that after-school-special type of episode to discuss LGBT suicide, but did they think about the after-effects of the episode on those whose lives have been touched by suicide, specifically hanging?

GLEE, YOU FUCKING SUCK.