Netflix’s ‘Badly in Love’ Loses Japan Government Support Over Crime Glorification

Japan’s Justice Ministry pulled its official support from Netflix’s dating show ‘Badly in Love’ on Friday, August 21, after intense public backlash over a cast member’s admission that he had set someone on fire as a teenager. The ministry had launched the unusual partnership earlier this month to promote the show’s second season, which focuses on young people with criminal pasts. The cancellation marks a rare retreat by a government agency from a major streaming platform over content concerns.

Why the government backed out

The Justice Ministry’s rehabilitation bureau initially supported the show because it believed the program highlighted stories of difficult childhoods, remorse, and personal transformation. Officials said these themes reflected the rehabilitation campaign’s message that people can change. However, the partnership faced immediate criticism after an episode aired in which one cast member confessed that, as a teenager, he had been arrested for setting someone on fire to prove he was “not chickening out.” The revelation intensified concerns about the government’s decision to associate itself with the program.

The show’s global success despite controversy

“Badly in Love” has proven an unexpected global hit since its December release. Netflix reported that Season 1 maintained a weeks-long top-10 presence in South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Season 2 is currently the top-ranked program in Japan, according to Netflix. The show follows 11 singles with troubled pasts, including former yakuza gangsters and motorcycle gang members, living together in Okinawa Prefecture for 14 days. It has been compared to MTV’s “Jersey Shore” for its focus on a maligned subculture.

What happens to the show now

“Badly in Love” will continue to air on Netflix without the government’s support. The ministry stated it was never the intention to endorse crime or glorify past acts, but acknowledged it received “many criticisms and concerns that crime victims would feel intense discomfort and unresolved pain.” The cancellation does not deny efforts to help rehabilitate people who committed crimes, the ministry added. Executive producer Dai Ota told AFP in April that the production team had conducted extensive internal discussions to ensure the show would not be perceived as condoning violence.

What this means for Netflix investors

The cancellation is a localized reputational issue with no immediate impact on Netflix’s financial performance. NFLX trades at $79.59 with a Meyka grade of B and analyst consensus at Buy. The stock’s RSI sits at 61.98, indicating neutral momentum. With a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.63 and free cash flow yield of 3.31%, the company remains well-positioned despite regional content controversies. The show’s continued top ranking in Japan suggests viewer demand remains strong despite government withdrawal.

Final Thoughts

Netflix’s show stays on air despite Japan’s government pullback, signaling that content controversies rarely halt streaming distribution. For investors, localized reputational issues rarely move the needle on a $331 billion market cap company.

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