Did Netflix cause glorification of Jeffrey Dahmer?

By L. Pereira 

The Netflix show telling the stories of  Dahmer's brutal murders and rapes has captivated true crime fans across the globe - yet disturbing TikTok trends, serial-killer themed nightclub events and Dahmer-inspired Halloween costumes are re-traumatising the families of his victims.  
 
Much like any other gory  true crime show that has reached Netflix stardom, the new Dahmer series has been steeped in controversy. 
 
Dahmer, known as the 'Milwaukee cannibal' was sentenced to life in prison in 1992 after the murder and rape of seventeen males, most of which were gay and black or brown. It is speculated that the only reason he was able to get away with the murders was because of the existing blatant racism at the time. He was later beaten to death two years after imprisonment.  
 
The victims family”s have spoken out claiming the show is “Re-traumatizing” and glorifies violence. When the tv show lead to video edits praising the killer and a trend where users reacted to Polaroids he would take of his victims, the families spoke out against Netflix. Furthermore, the controversy has grown thanks to those dressing up as the killer for Halloween.  
 
No official costume retailers have produced Jeffrey Dammer outfits, however eBay was caught in a scandal. They retailed Jeffrey inspired glasses and outfits, forcing them to recently post an apology and take down any clothes resembling the killer.  
 
The main controversy remains whether the true crime series has a glorifying impact on serial killers and is blatantly disrespectful to the victims. The controversy is most likely to continue since Dahmer’s family has recently published that they are also revolted  and plan to sue Netflix.  
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