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You might recognize 32-year-old actor Penn Badgley from his role playing kind-hearted and sensitive guy Dan Humphrey in the mid-2000s series Gossip Girl. Penn Badgley is now starring in Netflix Original series You, a sexy, suspenseful drama that became an instant hit upon its release on December 26th, 2018.
TL;DR Netflix's new sexy suspenseful drama series "You" is a disturbing story of a young bookstore manager who becomes obssessed with a girl. Actor Penn Badgley, who plays the main character Joe, turned to Twitter to express his disapproval of fans who romanticize his character.
You can thank the writers of this series for making this show insanely addicting, with a each episode ending in a nail-biting cliff hanger.
But you can also thank swoon-worthy Penn Badgley, who plays the role of main character Joe Goldberg, a quiet bookstore manager who — on the surface — is similar to the sensitive Dan Humphrey from Gossip Girl, except Joe's persona has a much more sinister twist.
@pennbadgleyWithin the first few minutes of the show, Joe becomes totally fixated on a girl who wanders into his bookstore, an aspiring young writer and blond-haired beauty, Beck, who is played by actress Elizabeth Lail.
After they first meet,Joe proceeds to endlessly obssess over her, clearly in an unhealthy way. Planning their future and strategizing on how to best manipulate her into falling for him. He even stalks her social media to find everything there is to know about her.
Also thanks to social media, he's able to follow her every move around New York City. This prompts the pair to randomly "bump" into each other, and slowly they begin forming a relationship.
To Beck's eyes, Joe is a total sweetheart, and a refreshing break from the rotation of ego-driven and sex-obssessed New York City guys she finds on Tinder.
But in reality, he's the total opposite of his exterior persona. Joe is a deeply disturbed individual. He's a manipulative, self-absorbed stalker, and to make things extra Hollywood, he's also a murderer.
Many fans of the show, and of Joe's character, are oddly obsessed with him and his mysterious personality. Countless female fans have turned to Twitter to say some pretty disturbing things about the character, like they would want to be kidnapped by him.
Penn Badgley himself responded to the Tweets by making clear he doesn't want women romanticising this deeply twisted and disturbed character.
The show also serves as a warning, as our culture does romanticize lustful, obsessive romantic attraction. But in reality, this type of extreme behaviour is not necessarily coming from a healthy place.
Ditto. It will be all the motivation I need for season 2. https://t.co/fy2hojauDG
No thx https://t.co/VnBqJ3JoxG
...of problems, right? https://t.co/9NmOGWvSYb
Although actor Penn Badgley is vocal about this, it doesn't seem to be stopping female fans from commenting on how attractive his character is.
well 'you' on netflix was a fucking trip and now i'm torn between being scared of everyone I know but also being strangely attracted to Penn badgley in it
if i had a stalker that looked like penn badgley i wouldn’t be THAT upset pic.twitter.com/rQ6RtCX0BG
Most people are praising the show and his performance. Badgley does an amazing job at portraying a complex character that the viewer can simultaneously love and hate within the same scene.
if i had a stalker that looked like penn badgley i wouldn’t be THAT upset pic.twitter.com/rQ6RtCX0BG
the character? disgusting. penn badgley? hottttt
Have to appreciate Penn Badgley’s performance. One minute he’s charming and gorgeous and every girl’s dream guy and the next minute he’s the creepiest scariest thing. #YOUNetflixpic.twitter.com/GPtykLrDL7
Penn Badgley as Joe makes my heart beat faster. pic.twitter.com/qugb55d2IM
There's no doubt about it, there are many interesting themes at play in this series, making You a must-watch for the weekend. Season 1 already received a 89% Rotten Tomato score.
penn badgley: joe is a MURDERER!! please dont sexualize him or like him
yall: pic.twitter.com/wxpsUeYJwr
Stay tuned.