Afflicted (TV series)

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|Title=Chapter 1: Toxic World

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2018|8|10}}

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|Title=Chapter 2: Support

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|Title=Chapter 3: Identity

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|EpisodeNumber=4

|Title=Chapter 4: The Mind

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|EpisodeNumber=5

|Title=Chapter 5: The Cost

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|EpisodeNumber=6

|Title=Chapter 6: Mind & Body

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2018|8|10}}

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|EpisodeNumber=7

|Title=Chapter 7: Well

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Since its release, the show has received backlash for its portrayal of chronic illnesses as psychosomatic or psychiatric disorders.{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/netflix-afflicted-chronic-illness_us_5b969f95e4b0cf7b00425970|title=Netflix's 'Afflicted' And The Constant Misunderstanding Around Chronic Illness|last=Birch|first=Jenna|date=2018-09-11|work=HuffPost|access-date=2018-09-15|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|author=Baltais, Christina|url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/why-believe-netflix-apos-apos-173536947.html|title=Why I Believe Netflix's 'Afflicted' Is Damaging for Those of Us in the ME Community|date=August 16, 2018|access-date=2018-09-15|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-09-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915122148/https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/why-believe-netflix-apos-apos-173536947.html|url-status=dead}} HuffPost{{'}}s Caitlin Flynn wrote that the series "failed the chronic illness community".{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/netflix-afflicted-chronic-illness_us_5b98200fe4b0511db3e6d954|title=How Netflix's 'Afflicted' Failed the Chronic Illness Community|last=Flynn|first=Caitlin|date=September 12, 2018|work=HuffPost|access-date=2018-09-15|language=en-US}} Cast members on the show have since publicly come out against the show and its editing practices.{{Cite news|url=https://themighty.com/2018/08/cast-afflicted-netflix-angry-speaking-out/|title=4 Ways the 'Afflicted' Cast Says Their Stories Were Distorted|last=Wyant|first=Paige|date=August 21, 2018|work=The Mighty|access-date=2018-09-15|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://medium.com/@afflicted/the-truth-behind-netflixs-afflicted-92e92d32cd7c|title=The Truth Behind Netflix's 'Afflicted'|date=August 19, 2018|website=Medium|access-date=2018-09-15}}{{Cite news|url=https://jamisonwrites.com/2018/08/20/netflix-and-hill-the-true-story-behind-afflicted/|title=Netflix and Hill: The True Story Behind "Afflicted"|last=Hill|first=Jamison|date=August 20, 2018|work=Jamison Writes|access-date=2018-09-15|language=en-US}} A group of physicians, scientists, filmmakers, writers, and others, including Sini Anderson, Jennifer Brea, Mario R. Capecchi, Ronald W. Davis, Lena Dunham, Maya Dusenbery, H. Craig Heller, Judith Heumann, Porochista Khakpour, Deborah Hoffmann, Monica Lewinsky, Abby Norman, Meghan O'Rourke, Frances Reid and Maysoon Zayid,

have petitioned Netflix to remove the series from its platform, identifying misrepresentation of subjects and questionable tactics as well as medical and scientific flaws as key problems.{{cite web |title=Open Letter to Netflix Regarding the "Afflicted" Docuseries |url=https://medium.com/@afflicted/open-letter-to-netflix-regarding-the-afflicted-docuseries-d2b5263c9eb6 |publisher=Medium |date=September 17, 2018 |access-date=2018-09-20}}

In 2019 seven of the participants in the series sued Netflix and the producers for defamation, false-light invasion of privacy, unjust enrichment and fraud over the way they were depicted on screen.{{cite web |title=Netflix Sued by Subjects of 'Afflicted' Docuseries, Accused of Defamation and Fraud |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/subjects-docuseries-afflicted-accuse-netflix-032623802.html |first=Ross A. |last=Lincoln |publisher=Yahoo |date=August 7, 2019 |access-date=April 16, 2022}} Netflix asked the Court to dismiss the case because participants signed releases. However, the trial court and appeals court ruled against Netflix and allowed the case to proceed. In a unanimous decision from the appellate court, the panel ruled that the consent releases the subjects signed aren’t enforceable because the participants were lied to and pressured to waive their rights not to be defamed.{{cite web |title=Defamation Lawsuit Against Netflix Over 'Afflicted' Docuseries Allowed to Proceed |url=https://news.yahoo.com/defamation-lawsuit-against-netflix-over-231228570.html |first=Winston |last=Cho |publisher=Yahoo |date=April 12, 2022 |access-date=April 16, 2022}}

The lawsuit was settled in 2023. Details of the settlement were not disclosed.{{cite web |title=Netflix Settles Defamation Lawsuit Over 'Afflicted' Docuseries |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/netflix-settles-defamation-lawsuit-afflicted-docuseries-1235516578/ |first=Winston |last=Cho |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=June 15, 2023 |access-date=2023-12-20}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://www.netflix.com/title/80188953|Afflicted}} on Netflix
• {{IMDb title|id=8792570}}

{{Netflix original ended series (2012–2018)}}

Category:Netflix original documentary television series

Category:American English-language television shows

Category:2018 American television series debuts

Category:2018 American television series endings

Category:2010s American documentary television series

Category:Works involved in defamation lawsuits

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