True Crime TV; Entertainment, Ethicality, and Exploitation

May 11, 2024.

The dark stories of true events make true crime shows widely popular and can generate a massive payout to producers. However, the victims depicted in true crime productions are often entirely mistreated and exploited. The Netflix original 10-episode series Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is the second most popular show on Netflix, reaching 496 million hours in the first two weeks of its release in 2022 and generating $341 million by 2023 (McNulty par. 1). The show is a non-fiction, true crime television anthology produced by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan and won four awards at the Golden Globes in 2023 for its highly acclaimed acting. In the article “Netflix Series ‘Dahmer’ Walks Ethical Boundaries,” Ashlyn Tate describes the show’s depiction of the gruesome crimes committed by Dahmer in Wisconsin in the 1960s, where he “…grew up to brutally kill, rape, and eat 17 young men” (Tate par. 3). Court case documents from criminal events are public record, allowing media, press, and the entertainment industry full access to use the information freely under the protection of the First Amendment. However, victims are not required to be notified before productions move forward to be released to the public. They are often shocked to learn of their stories' productions after they have already premiered (McNulty par. 2).  

Many victims portrayed in true crime TV are exploited and forced to relive the traumatic events they endured, along with being bombarded by the press and fans after their tragedies were thrown in the spotlight for producers to make a profit. Though Netflix found great success with Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, family members of victims advocate the injustice and exploitation they have experienced. In the article “The Downside to True Crime: How Current Laws Fail to Protect Victims and Their Families” from the University of Miami Law Review, Catlin McNulty describes that victims and their families lack sufficient legal protections that allow shows like Dahmer to monetize and exploit their tragedies. Rita Isbell, characterized in the show, is the sister to Errol Lindsey, whom Dahmer brutally murdered. Rita stated that she was especially distressed seeing herself in the show and being forced to relive the events. She also accounted, “I was never contacted about the show… Netflix should’ve asked if we mind or how we felt about making it. They didn’t ask me anything. They just did it” (McNulty par. 1). Too often, victims and family members are not consulted before recounts of one of the most personal and traumatizing events of their lives are released to a massive audience.

Though the First Amendment allows the press, media, and entertainment industry to do the important job of bringing some of the darkest parts of humanity to light, innocent lives that have already fallen victim to horrific crimes are regularly exploited by the actions of the press and true crime entertainment producers. Better privacy protections must be offered to victims of violent crime to prevent further distress and uphold citizens’ civil rights.

Citations

McNulty, Catlin. “The Downside to True Crime: How Current Laws Fail to Protect Victims and Their Families.” University of Miami Law Review. University of Miami Law Review, 26 Mar. 2023, lawreview.law.miami.edu/the-downside-to-true-crime-how-current-laws-fail-to-protect-victims-and-their-families/. 

Spanner, Holly. “Why Are We so Obsessed with True Crime?” BBC Science Focus Magazine, Our Media, www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/why-are-we-so-obsessed-with-true-crime. Accessed 13 May 2024. 

Tate, Ashlyn. “Netflix Series ‘Dahmer’ Walks Ethical Boundaries.” The Standard. The Standard, 31 Oct. 2022, standard.asl.org/20869/culture/netflix-series-dahmer-walks-ethical-boundaries/.