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True crime fans need to realize that behind every harrowing "based on a true story" disclaimer are grieving families forced to relive their loved ones' gruesome deaths, packaged as entertainment for the masses.
Netflix's latest true crime hit is Dahmer, a fictionalized retelling of the serial murders by the late Jeffrey Dahmer, who killed at least 17 men and boys—mostly of color—from 1978 to 1991.
Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story has been lauded by fans but also widely criticized for allegedly exploiting these (relatively recent) murders for entertainment—with some of the victims' families publically stating they were not consulted about their loved ones and their gruesome deaths being portrayed in the series.
Dr. Gerard Lawson, a licensed professional counselor at Virginia Tech and past president of the American Counseling Association, discussed with Newsweek how Dahmer and similar shows may cause the victims' grieving families to become retraumatized. He said those types of programs are, at the very least, "inconsiderate and more likely disrespectful" to those loved ones, adding that his "heart goes out to" the families of Dahmer's victims.
The following interview with Lawson has been lightly edited for clarity.
Newsweek: Some of the families of the victims of Jeffrey Dahmer have spoken out against Netflix making the series, saying they were not consulted or asked permission. What is your take on this?
Dr. Gerard Lawson: It does feel, at the least, inconsiderate and more likely disrespectful to not contact or consult with the families of the victims. For individuals who lost a loved one in a violent manner, there is an ongoing feeling of grief and trauma that is rooted in the real loss of control over what happened to their loved one and, by extension, a loss of control in their own lives.
Over the years since these events, I imagine many family members have made progress in restoring some sense of control in their lives. This show has removed that sense of control abruptly and without advanced notice, with a retelling of the worst episodes of these families' lives. I don't know if there was ever any contemplation of contacting or consulting with the families, but my hunch is that there was an understanding that any portrayal of Dahmer would be unacceptable to the families. So if they were determined to make this series, they probably felt they had to exclude these families.
NW: Is it unethical for companies like Netflix to turn the murders of real-life people into light entertainment?
GL: My ethical obligation as a licensed professional counselor, like many professions, begins with doing no harm, and includes respecting individual dignity and promoting the welfare of my clients. I don't know whether there is a code of ethics for streaming companies, but the question that I would raise is: "What competing needs are being balanced as you make a decision about whether to produce or release this show?" If one side of that balance is the negative impact on the families of victims and the potential glorification of serial violence, what can possibly outweigh those concerns? Potential audience share? The financial benefit? I have a hard time reconciling those competing needs. It seems like shows like this, and much of the reality TV genre, has moved away from the idea that there should be some redeeming value, even from things designed to entertain. I cannot imagine what this show contributes that is positive, helpful, or pro-social.
NW: What are your thoughts on true crime as a genre and how exploitative it can be?
GL: There is a broad spectrum of storytelling when it comes to crime and traumatic events. On one end of the spectrum is responsible storytelling that is designed to address a social problem, highlight the impact on victims, and is respectful to how those individuals are portrayed. That sort of storytelling does not highlight or fixate on the gruesome details of the crimes. How different would this story have been if each episode followed a different person, highlighting the life they lived and the people who loved them, right up to the moment they met Dahmer? That certainly would be a profound story, and the power of the losses would be contextualized in the understanding that the world is a poorer place without these people in it, instead of their deaths being used for entertainment.
NW: Do you think the tide of public opinion regarding true crime is changing now that families are expressing the hurt this show is causing?
GL: I hope so, but I am doubtful that it is. Anytime we are viewing the suffering of another human being for our entertainment, that takes a toll on our ability to experience empathy and compassion for real people in our own lives. That is creating greater distance from one another and leads to more and more division. Again, there are responsible ways to tell compelling stories that encourage greater empathy and compassion and raise or amplify underlying social issues. But they require more work than simply presenting shock and horror.
NW: How would you advise families whose late loved ones are portrayed on shows like this? Some of the families have said that the series is "retraumatizing." How can people deal with this?
GL: My heart goes out to these families, having to revisit or even relive the worst episodes of their lives, with no say in the matter. They may feel a setback in the recovery they have worked for and are feeling some of the fear and pain they did from decades ago. I would say first that they know the real story of their loved one's life and to not allow others to change that. The portrayal of the life and death of their loved ones for entertainment purposes is callous and disrespectful, and opinions being expressed on social media are generally ignorant of the real story. So you get to be the beacon of truth for the beautiful people that were taken from you too soon, and the real story of their lives. And you have no responsibility to any of us to share that beacon, unless you want to.
If this is beginning to impact your life in negative ways, counselors have made tremendous progress in our ability to help people who have experienced trauma. There is no reason for you to suffer alone and talking to a professional counselor can help find some relief.
NW: Should viewers be more aware that shows like Dahmer are about real people and not just fictional scary stories?
GL: Absolutely. Part of the reason some people are drawn to horror movies is that it allows them to feel the fear in a controlled environment. In fact, most good fiction requires us to "suspend our disbelief" and allow ourselves to believe things that, if we examined them critically, we know are not true. Think of science fiction or fantasy tales, that require us to believe that aliens walk among us or that royalty used to ride dragons. At some level we know that is fiction, but we willingly suspend our disbelief to engage in the story and the lessons it may have. When real life is portrayed in a fictionalized manner, it should be disturbing because it is true, but at the end we might walk away with a feeling that it was just another horror movie. There is no lesson learned, no real catharsis, no hero's journey, because real life isn't always as clean as movies.
If the goal of horror movies is to explore the darkness that exists in all of us and to feel the stimulation of fear in the safety of a fictional story, what impact does that have when that darkness truly existed in another person and that safety was violated?
Newsweek reached out to Netflix for comment.
