'13 Reasons Why' Star Miles Heizer Defends Show: 'It Felt So Real To Me'

Miles Heizer has broken his silence on some of the backlash that 13 Reasons Why is getting.

The 22-year-old actor, who plays Alex on the Netflix series, fights back against the idea that the show glorifies suicide.

“It doesn’t glorify it whatsoever. It’s necessary to show the brutal reality of things,” Miles told THR. “I don’t think anyone watched Hannah’s suicide scene and was thrilled by it. It’s a very realistic depiction and shows what a horrifying experience that is. That’s not something anyone would want to go through or have anyone go through. After watching it, I was screaming crying. I was so upset by it. Showing it in that way makes it into a reality as opposed to a glorification. She’s not dying peacefully in a bath tub, it’s painful and brutal. I watched that scene after it came out and watching it, I was not prepared. I was filming [Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens] with Katherine [Langford] in Atlanta and my immediate reaction was, “Oh my God, I have to see Katherine and know that she’s OK.” It was hard knowing Katherine and seeing that because it felt so real to me. I’m glad I got to see her the next day.”

He added, “A lot of people shy away from the reality of what that looks like and what people go through when that happens. When you see it, it opens your eyes to make sure it doesn’t happen to anyone. It makes you want to help people and make a difference.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK of Miles’ comments on the show?