PodcastNetflix Turkey show slammed by media watchdog for fake Twitter user's claims of LGBTQ content
A Netflix production called “Love 101” about a group of high school students was criticized by Turkey’s Radio and Television High Council (RTÜK) when a fake Twitter account posing as the producers hinted that one of the characters was not heterosexual, binary or cis-gendered. "We couldn’t possibly overlook any content that could badly affect the development of kids and young adults,” RTÜK Chair Ebubekir Şahin said.
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A Netflix Turkey production called “Love 101” received criticism from Turkey's Radio and Television High Council (RTÜK) after a fake Twitter account hinted that one of the characters was not heterosexual, binary or cis-gendered.
“We gave them a warning. We have our eye on them. We couldn’t possibly overlook any content that could badly affect the development of kids and young adults,” RTÜK Chair Ebubekir Şahin said.
The show depicts a group of high school students who struggle in school, and whose favorite teacher decides quit her job, leaving the gang to come up with a plan to make her stay.
Following the April 6 release of the show's trailer, the show become a topic of discussion on social media when a Twitter account that wasn't affiliated with the show tweeted, pretending to be the producers of the show.
"We're all dark people under the colorful rainbow! But Osman?" tweeted the account, implying that one of the characters was not heterosexual, binary or cis-gendered.
The RTÜK became able to intervene in online streaming services’ content following legislation passed August 2019, Şahin noted.
Conservatives in Turkey furious at Netflix for bringing a new show said to have LGBT characters“Our red lines are apparent, we are moving with the authority granted to us by legislation created by national will,” Şahin said.
The show will be released on Netflix April 24.
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