Netflix has a hot-boy murderer problem

From the four-part docu-series and movie on Ted Bundy, to the new TV show “Dirty John,” and Penn Badgley’s latest show, “You” — it seems Netflix’s latest microgenre is hot-boy murderers.Soon after Netflix released its series on Ted Bundy, Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes, thousands of people were lusting over him on Twitter:I know he’s a murderer but we can say Ted Bundy is hot right? #TedBundy pic.twitter.com/g3R22ARcAS— Chencha (In Real Life) (@SoyLaChencha) January 29, 2019There have been so many posts that the streaming platform had to tweet a statement pleading for people to stop obsessing over murderous men…I’ve seen a lot of talk about Ted Bundy’s alleged hotness and would like to gently remind everyone that there are literally THOUSANDS of hot men on the service — almost all of whom are not convicted serial murderers— Netflix US (@netflix) January 28, 2019The “hot Ted Bundy” we’re talking about was an American serial killer, kidnapper, and rapist — among other vile things. But looking at this documentary in the context of Netflix’s other popular original releases, including “You” — in which Penn Badgley plays Joe Goldberg, a handsome bookstore owner who obsessively stalks and manipulates his girlfriend and murders several people she loves —it seems Netflix is riding a dangerous new wave of romanticizing male murderers. And young viewers don’t seem to get the difference.A notable example of this was when 14-year-old Stranger Things actress Millie Bobby Brown said in an Instagram Story to her 18.2 million followers: “So I just started that new show You… He’s not creepy, he’s in love with her and it’s okay…”“By the way, I know everybody is gonna say ‘Ahhh, he’s a stalker, why would you support that?!’ But like, he’s in love with her… just watch the show and don’t judge me on my opinion.”The fervent adoration of the stalker and murderer reached such a fever pitch that the show’s star had to step in — Badgley responded to multiple tweets from fans lusting over his murderous character:A: He is a murderer https://t.co/g2g4f3JvaF— Penn Badgley (@PennBadgley) January 9, 2019No thx https://t.co/VnBqJ3JoxG— Penn Badgley (@PennBadgley) January 9, 2019Then we got nothing left.“Thanks 2019 but we’ll take the check plz”