Controversial Netflix dating show sparks backlash in Japan

The Japanese justice ministry has announced it will cancel its partnership with Netflix's controversial dating show "Badly in Love" following widespread backlash against what critics deemed the glorification of criminal behavior. The ministry had previously endorsed the show as part of its rehabilitation campaign, highlighting what it saw as participants' journeys of change and growth despite often violent pasts.

The show's second season became an unexpected global hit, especially in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, while the first season maintained a top-10 ranking in those regions. The ministry's rehabilitation bureau defended the collaboration, arguing that the show depicted participants' harsh upbringing, remorse, and personal transformation in a manner consistent with the belief that individuals can change.

However, the ministry has now decided to terminate the partnership, citing concerns that the show could cause discomfort for crime victims. Season 2 of "Badly in Love" faced particular criticism after an episode in which a cast member revealed he had been arrested as a teenager for setting someone on fire. The ministry emphasized that the cancellation does not imply a denial of efforts to rehabilitate former offenders, stressing that the show aimed to present its subjects as ordinary youths who face struggles and genuinely evolve.