Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Japan Cancels Netflix Dating Show Partnership After Crime Glorification Outcry
Japan’s Ministry of Justice worked with Netflix on a dating show called “Badly in Love.”
The show features young people who had difficult or criminal pasts.
The ministry supported it because it wanted to show that people can change.
Some people became upset because they felt the partnership made past crimes look acceptable.
One Season 2 participant talked about being arrested for setting someone on fire as a teenager.
The ministry said it did not mean to praise crime.
It decided to end its partnership with the show.
The show itself will keep streaming.
Its producer says the goal is to show young people struggling and growing, not to approve violence.
Japan’s Ministry of Justice will cancel its rehabilitation campaign collaboration with Netflix’s “Badly in Love.”
The partnership faced criticism after Season 2 featured a cast member describing an arrest for setting someone on fire as a teenager.
The ministry said it never intended to endorse or glorify crime, but acknowledged concerns from people victimized by crime.
Officials said ending the campaign does not reject rehabilitation efforts for people who committed crimes in the past.
The show will continue airing without government support, while its producer said the program aims to portray personal growth rather than condone violence.
- Who
- Japan’s Ministry of Justice, Netflix, the “Badly in Love” production team, cast members, and critics concerned about crime victims.
- What
- The Ministry of Justice is ending its collaboration with Netflix’s dating show “Badly in Love.”
- When
- The cancellation was announced Friday, after the partnership began earlier in the month and Season 2 drew criticism.
- Where
- Japan; the show also became popular in South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
- Why
- The ministry received criticism that the campaign could glorify or trivialize past crimes and cause discomfort among crime victims.
Critics and Ministry Concerns
Rehabilitation and Producer’s Defense
Whether the collaboration glorified crime
Critics and Ministry Concerns
Critics argued that featuring former delinquents and the controversial confession could glorify or trivialize criminal acts and cause distress to crime victims.
Rehabilitation and Producer’s Defense
The Ministry of Justice said endorsing crime was never its intention, while producer Dai Ota said the team worked to avoid making the show appear to condone violence.
Value of highlighting former offenders
Critics and Ministry Concerns
Opponents questioned whether a government rehabilitation campaign should be associated with entertainment that depicts participants’ criminal pasts.
Rehabilitation and Producer’s Defense
The ministry said canceling the campaign does not deny rehabilitation efforts, and Ota said the show aims to portray marginalized young people who struggle and genuinely grow.
- Government agency
- Japan’s Ministry of Justice rehabilitation bureau
- Streaming platform
- Netflix
- Program
- “Badly in Love”
- Partnership status
- Government collaboration terminated
- Show status
- The program will continue airing without government support
- Controversial episode
- A Season 2 cast member described being arrested for setting someone on fire as a teenager
- Stated rehabilitation message
- The ministry said the campaign reflected the belief that a person can change