’13 Reasons Why’ Author Jay Asher ‘Was Not Involved’ in Season 2, Netflix Says

Asher was recently expelled from a writers group for breaking sexual harassment code

13 reasons why characters ranked hannah baker
Netflix

Following news that “13 Reasons Why” author Jay Asher was expelled from a writers group for violating its sexual harassment code, Netflix has confirmed that he already had no attachment to the second season of their adaptation of his book.

“Jay Asher was not involved in the second season of ’13 Reasons Why,’” a Netflix spokesperson told TheWrap on Tuesday. “The upcoming season will not be impacted in any way.”

On Sunday, Lin Oliver, executive director of Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, confirmed that Asher and another author had “been expelled from the SCBWI” and were “not welcome as members, faculty or speakers … There is a zero tolerance policy for harassment, there is a preponderance [of] powerful and respected women on our board, on our staff, and in our membership.”

Oliver told BuzzFeed Monday that, after an investigation, “we felt that terminating his [Asher’s] membership was the proper course of action. We have always been really sensitive to sexual harassment issues and have a zero tolerance policy, but clearly our policies haven’t prevented violations, so we’re taking this opportunity to take another look at our guidelines.”

Asher also spoke with BuzzFeed saying, “it’s very scary when you know people are just not going to believe you once you open your mouth.”

“I feel very conflicted about it just because of what’s going on in the culture and who’s supposed to be believed and who’s not … I understand the predicament they’re in with everything going on and to want to protect themselves,” he continued. “I love the organization, but they didn’t decide to push me out. It was my decision, even though [Oliver] said the email contained nothing that their organization should have anything to do with.”

Netflix has yet to set a premiere date for Season 2 of “13 Reasons Why.”

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