A crew member who worked on the filming of the forthcoming Netflix series “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” reported experiencing PTSD after viewing the teaser due to the poor treatment she received on set.
As one of two Black female crew members, Kim Alsup, a production coordinator on the Ryan Murphy program about the life of a serial murderer, said she was frequently confused with another Black woman who worked on the show.
“Both of us had braids, she had dark skin and was 5’10 I’m 5’5, “Alsup wrote a tweet that went viral. “Working on this project required everything I had because I was mistreated.”
—Kim Alsup (@KimAlsup)
September 18, 2022
Alsup told the Los Angeles Times that the series was “among the worst I’ve ever worked on” and that the experience was “exhausting.” She told the Los Angeles Times that she will not be watching the show.
“I fear it will bring up too many memories of working on the project. I do not wish to have PTSD-like scenarios. The trailer itself induced PTSD in me “She stated,
Alsup told the Los Angeles Times that her experience did not improve until the sixth episode of the series, which was written by Black writers Janet Mock and Paris Barclay and directed by Black director Paris Barclay. I have not seen any additional complaints, nor did she elaborate on her past experiences.
Alsup also informed the LA Times that mental health coordinators were not present on set, although a Netflix representative told the Times that mental health resources are accessible. Netflix declined to comment to the Los Angeles Times on Alsup’s assertions regarding working conditions on the show.
Families of Dahmer’s actual victims are among those who have spoken out against the Netflix documentary.
Rita Isbell, the sister of Errol Lindsey, Jeffrey Dahmer’s victim, delivered an impassioned victim impact statement at Dahmer’s trial in 1992, which was replicated in the series. Isbell told Insider’s Kelsey Vlamis in an as-told-to piece that the series made her feel like she was “reliving [the murder] all over again.”
Isbell told Insider she was never contacted for the show. “I believe Netflix should have asked us if we minded or how we felt about the production. Nobody asked me anything. They just completed the action.”
Netflix and Alsup did not respond to Insider’s request for comment immediately.