'13 Reasons Why' removes controversial suicide scene from first season

INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) — Two years after debuting its first season on Netflix, "13 Reasons Why" no longer depicts the graphic, three-minute scene of a teenager taking her own life.

In the first season's finale, titled "Tape 7, Side A," Hannah Baker, played by Katherine Langford, takes her own life by slitting her left wrist with a razor blade in the bathtub. After much controversy, including a study showing kids' suicide rates spiked after the series premiered, Netflix has edited the scene. It now depicts Baker staring at her reflection in the mirror before cutting to her parents' reaction in a later scene. There is no longer any depiction of the character's suicide.

Netflix released a statement on Tuesday morning on Twitter:

Shortly after, show creator Brian Yorkey responded with a further explanation:

A statement from our show creator Brian Yorkey.

— 13 Reasons Why (@13ReasonsWhy) July 16, 2019

"13 Reasons Why" follows teenager Clay Jensen (Dylan Minnette) as he tries to uncover why fellow high school student Hannah Baker killed herself. He gets his hands on a box of cassette tapes, which details thirteen reasons why Baker chose to end her life.

Netflix will release the third season later this summer.