Netflix added a warning label to the Season 4 premiere of “Stranger Things” in the wake of the deadly school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
Ahead of the Friday premiere, Netflix added a disclaimer to the Season 3 recap that plays before the first episode of Season 4.
“We filmed this season of Stranger Things a year ago,” the card reads. “But given the recent tragic shooting at a school in Texas, viewers may find the opening scene of episode 1 distressing. We are deeply saddened by this unspeakable violence, and our hearts go out to every family mourning a loved one.”
The warning label is for viewers in the U.S. only.
The description of the premiere episode has also been edited to include the advisory, “Warning: Contains graphic violence involving children.” Netflix added “disturbing images” to the show rating advisories as well.
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Season 4 of “Stranger Things” picks up with friends Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) Will (Noah Schnapp) and Eleven (Millie Bobbie Brown) as terrifying things start happening in the town of Hawkins, due to the arrival of a mysterious figure killing local teens.
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Brown took to Instagram Wednesday to mourn the 19 children that were killed earlier this week.
“Mourning the loss of these beautiful angels,” wrote the “Stranger Things” star. “Each one of these precious children deserved the chance to live their lives to the fullest and to pursue their hopes and dreams. My heart aches for their families and loved ones, the teachers and fellow students.”
“Stranger Things” isn’t the only TV show to make changes following Tuesday’s shooting at Robb Elementary School in Texas, which marks the deadliest shooting at a U.S. grade school since the 2012 attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut.
That same day, CBS pulled the plug on the Season 4 finale of its crime drama “FBI” because the finale storyline involved a suspected student’s participation in a deadly robbery. The network re-aired the show’s 12th episode “Under Pressure” in place of the season finale, and it’s unclear whether the episode will air in the future.
Similarly, Apple TV+ canceled a red carpet event for Season 2 of its dramedy “Physical” Tuesday night.
“Out of respect for today’s tragedy in Texas, tonight’s screening of ‘Physical’ Season 2 will be a private event with no press,” read a statement from Physical’s cast and creative team, according to reports from The Hollywood Reporter and Variety. “We thank you for wanting to be there with us and know that you join with us in our heartfelt support for all of the families affected by today’s event.”
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The tragic shooting in Uvalde, Texas, resulted in the loss of 21 lives, including 19 children and two adults. A U.S. Border Protection agent, one of several responding to the scene, shot and killed the 18-year-old gunman, who also fatally shot his grandmother, a senior Department of Homeland Security official told USA TODAY on Tuesday night.
“This was a tragic and senseless event today, and my heart was broke today,” said Hal Harrell, the school system superintendent, who said at a news conference that grief counselors would be available and classes were canceled for the year. “We’re a small community and we’ll need your prayers to get us through this.”
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Contributing: N’dea Yancey-Bragg, Trevor Hughes, Chris Kenning, Brian Truitt, USA TODAY; The Associated Press
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism