Hollywood needs to stop romanticizing toxic relationships
The Netflix show “You” main character, Joe, is a perfect example of toxicity and obsessive behavior.
November 10, 2021
The idea of love has been shifted in the minds of Generation Z because of the media and the movie industry romanticizing toxic relationships.
Toxic relationships have been on display in films since the movie industry has started, but this type of behavior was frowned upon in the past. Now the new generation has started to praise it.
The movie After We Fell shows every aspect of a toxic relationship and romanticizes it to a point where young viewers strive to have a relationship that resembles the one shown in the movie.
The main characters base their relationship off of a dare and keep the relationship afloat after various harmful fights. The movie showcases the obsession that they have with each other, which only leads them to turn the relationship toxic.
This romanitized toxic relationship leaves young fans wanting this type of relationship in their own lives, one in which they would become obsessed with the person they are dating.
This unhealthy relationship view only has negative outcomes. The overall impact of a toxic relationship can cause various mental health issues.
The show You, similarly, has the audience yearning for a type of relationship that the main character Joe strives for. His character kills and harms various people for love — and yet fans are romaticing this character trait.
They are yearning for this type of obsession within a realistic relationship, but this will only lead to cases of abuse. Romanticizing characters like Joe falsely depicts what love looks like.
Younger audience seeing a character kill someone to be in a relationship only leads them to believe that love and relationships should be this intense, which is not the case.
The movie industry has put toxic relationships on a pedestal, which has resulted in young viewers wanting to have the same types of relationships.
The positive light that the movie industry has been shining on negative relationships needs to be stopped.
