Marti Noxon Releases Statement After Her 'To the Bone' Trailer Was Met With Criticism
On Tuesday, Netflix released the trailer for “To the Bone,” a Netflix original movie about a young girl struggling with an eating disorder and her experience going to treatment. The movie stars Lily Collins and is based on the director, Marti Noxon’s, experience with anorexia.
The trailer was immediately met with criticism from some in the mental health and eating disorder community, who said they felt it was triggering, and needed to include a trigger warning and resources.
In response to the trailer’s mixed reviews, Marti Noxon published a note to Twitter addressing the discussion.
#ToTheBone @netflix pic.twitter.com/ULlsJco3oV
— marti "gleeful shit-stirrer" noxon (@martinoxon) June 23, 2017
Her note reads:
Having struggled with Anorexia and Bulimia well into my 20s, I know firsthand the struggle, isolation and shame a person feels when they are in the grips of this illness. In an effort to tell this story as responsibly as we could, we spoke with other survivors and worked with Project Heal throughout the production in the hopes of being truthful in a way that wasn’t explosive. That said, it’s important to remember EDs is unique and To The Bone is just one of the millions of ED stories that could be told in the US at this very moment. My goal with the film was not to glamorize EDs, but to serve as a conversation starter about an issue that is too often clouded by secrecy and misconceptions. I hope that casting by a little light into the darkness of this disease we can achieve greater understanding and guide people to help if they need it.
The tweet was met with mixed reviews.
You've created a beautiful, honest & compassionate film…BRAVA!! @GirlsGoneChild
— Linda Goldstein Knowlton (@lindagknowlton) June 23, 2017
Then it would be great if @netflix didn't make it seem like cute doctors & English boys solve everything
— Eileen A. Wolter (@eileenawolter) June 23, 2017
I don't think the trailer looked exploitive. Seems like this is an after effect of 13 Reasons Why, which was deeply problematic.
— Nicky Sparkles (@Other_Girl) June 23, 2017
I'm putting hope that this message will come across in the film, glamorizations is the last thing those who suffer need.
— Julia????????????️???? (@jwicky24) June 23, 2017
Watch the trailer here:
Editor’s note: If you live with an eating disorder, the “To the Bone” trailer could be potentially triggering. You can contact the Crisis Text Line by texting “NEDA” to 741-741.
What do you think?