Japan's justice ministry announced on Friday that it will end its partnership with the Netflix dating series "Badly in Love." The decision follows public criticism that the collaboration appeared to glorify criminal behavior. The reality show features young adults with histories of juvenile delinquency, including former gang members, living together for 14 days to seek romantic connections.
The ministry’s rehabilitation bureau initially launched the partnership earlier this month, releasing promotional posters featuring Season 2 cast members. Officials stated the campaign was intended to highlight the potential for personal change and atonement. However, the ministry said in a statement on Friday that it received significant feedback expressing concern that the partnership caused discomfort to crime victims.
Public scrutiny intensified after a recent episode in which a participant described being arrested as a teenager for setting a person on fire. While the ministry is withdrawing its formal support and promotional materials, officials clarified that the decision is not intended to discourage rehabilitation efforts for those with criminal pasts. The show itself is expected to continue airing on the streaming platform without government involvement.
Japanese citizens and victims of crime may notice a change in how the government communicates its rehabilitation programs. Instead of seeing official ministry posters featuring individuals with visible tattoos and criminal histories, the public will see a termination of these specific promotional ties. The ministry’s statement explicitly addressed the "discomfort" felt by those victimized by crimes, suggesting a shift in how the government balances rehabilitation advocacy with victim sensitivity in its public relations efforts.
The move sets a precedent for how government agencies in Japan interact with commercial entertainment that depicts social fringes or criminal activity. While the ministry maintained that "a person can change," the backlash demonstrated the limits of using reality television to promote state policy. What happens next is the continued broadcast of Season 2 on Netflix, which remains the top-ranked show in the country. The ministry has already begun the process of terminating the partnership as of Friday, and no further collaborative posters or campaigns are expected.