If you thought your passion for Game of Thrones was strong, you’ve got nothing on this fangirl who is so upset about The OA being cancelled, she’s on a hunger strike outside Netflix headquarters as we speak.
Earlier this month, the mind-bending Netflix series The OA was cancelled. It was a devastating loss for fans and those involved in the show itself. Britt Marling, who played the role of Prairie Johsnon in The OA, took to Instagram to tell fans “the first time I heard the news I had a good cry.”
“We feel profound gratitude to Netflix and the people we have worked with there for making it possible to make Part I and Part II. We feel proud of those 16 uncompromised hours,” she wrote. “In large part, millions upon millions of you have given us this sense of pride by watching – with the comments you’ve left, the art you’ve made, the Reddit theories you’ve sown, the movements you’ve performed in public squares, bedrooms, nightclubs and backyards all over the world.”
The OA’s sudden departure from Netflix caused such an uproar, the fans of the show took to social media with the hashtag #SaveTheOA and threatened cancelling their subscriptions to the streaming service. They’ve even started a petition to save the show which has racked up almost 80,000 signatures.
…But one fan took the protest one step further. According to The Independent, 35-year-old fan Emperial Young claims she hasn’t eaten since August 16th and plans to continue her hunger strike until Netflix renews the show.
“Entertainment is food for the human soul and Netflix’s algorithm isn’t measuring that right now,” Young told Insider during a protest outside Netflix HQ. “And by not taking physical food, I’m saying that this show is more important food to me than actual food.”
This week, Young tweeted, “While it looks like I’m protesting a TV cancellation on the surface, I am protesting the capitalist forces that killed the show, general lack of societal support resources, and to raise awareness about properly teaching AI. The cancellation is a lense for these topics.”
In another lengthy Twitter thread, Young explained her hunger strike and how important television shows are when it comes to helping people cope with mental health issues.
Here’s hoping Netflix gives the people what they so clearly want.
If you, or anyone you know is struggling with mental health issues, contact Lifeline of 13 11 14 or 1800 REACHOUT for support.