Netflix recently had a wild tweet about executed killer Ted Bundy. Bundy has been in the news nonstop thanks to the fact there’s a new Zac Efron movie about him and Netflix also released their own documentary series. Series from the popular streaming service is downright incredible. I’m a little more than halfway through, and can’t believe how captivating it is. I’ll have a full review of it for all of you guys once I’m finished. Apparently, some people are captivated for a different reason, and it revolves around his physical appearance. That led to Netflix reminding people that Bundy murdered dozens of women. They tweeted Monday, “I’ve seen a lot of talk about Ted Bundy’s alleged hotness and would like to gently remind everyone that there are literally THOUSANDS of hot men on the service — almost all of whom are not convicted serial murderers.” (RELATED: Watch The Trailer For The Ted Bundy Film ‘Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil And Vile’) I’ve seen a lot of talk about Ted Bundy’s alleged hotness and would like to gently remind everyone that there are literally THOUSANDS of hot men on the service — almost all of whom are not convicted serial murderers — Netflix US (@netflix) January 28, 2019 I can’t believe Netflix actually hit the send button on that tweet. It’s mind-blowing to me. Don’t get me wrong. I did laugh a little bit, but that hardly makes it a good tweet. I laugh at all kinds of dumb stuff. Having said that, I’m not sure Netflix should pretty much be making jokes about a dude who murdered tons of women. Seems like a really foolish decision. Again, I want to state this as clearly as possible. Ted Bundy murdered dozens of women, and Netflix is kind of tweeting about their series in a humorous way. I’m not sure that’s a great social media strategy. Wild decision from Netflix here, but it’s another reminder of just how unpredictable the internet is. Now, go and start streaming the documentary. It’s worth every second of your time. Follow David Hookstead on Twitter<doc-sep>The new Netflix docu-series about Ted Bundy, "Conversations with A Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes," paints a dark picture of the convicted serial killer, whose deeply troubled psyche led him to carry out an estimated 30 murders. According to Netflix, that hasn't stopped some viewers from fixating on his good looks, with the streaming service tweeting Monday about the worrisome trend. "I've seen a lot of talk about Ted Bundy’s alleged hotness and would like to gently remind everyone that there are literally THOUSANDS of hot men on the service – almost all of whom are not convicted serial murderers," the tweet from the official Netflix account reads. Netflix released the chilling Bundy docu-series 30 years to the day of when Bundy died in the electric chair at Florida State Prison. The four-part docu-series gives viewers a walk-through of his grisly crimes, and features audio from conversations with the killer behind bars. Bundy's not the only one: 'You' star Badgley chastises stalker character's fans Netflix's tweet isn't the first instance in which the streaming service has had to tweet a PSA about viewers' reactions to its programming. Following December's release of the Sandra Bullock thriller "Bird Box," fans began sharing videos of themselves wandering around blindfolded doing the so-called #BirdboxChallenge, which is inspired by scenes depicted in the movie. Netflix responded with a tweet urging viewers to rethink the viral challenge. "Can’t believe I have to say this, but: PLEASE DO NOT HURT YOURSELVES WITH THIS BIRD BOX CHALLENGE," the streaming service tweeted on Jan. 2. "We don’t know how this started, and we appreciate the love, but Boy and Girl have just one wish for 2019 and it is that you not end up in the hospital due to memes." More Ted Bundy:Shocking revelations from Netflix's 'Conversations with A Killer" More:Does Zac Efron movie sexualize serial killer Ted Bundy? Critics are split<doc-sep>Netflix says it wants people to stop lusting after Ted Bundy, because that’s what it has to say. But make no mistake, the streaming service is loving all the memes and tweets about the infamous serial killer’s “hotness.” Bundy, who raped and murdered dozens of young women in the 1970s, was caught in 1978, and executed in 1989, remains one of the world’s most studied serial killers. That’s in part because he looked and often acted (according to some that knew him) like a normal, well-adjusted person. Since his execution, Bundy has been analyzed in countless films, documentaries, books, and songs, as Americans still struggle to understand how a human being could be capable of such atrocities—especially one as classically handsome as Bundy. So it was only a matter of time before Netflix, in its quest to be the only entertainment platform you’ll ever need, produced a documentary about Bundy. Last week, the streamer released Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes, a four-part docu-series featuring never-before-heard audio of the killer discussing his crimes in the third person. (For years after his capture, Bundy maintained he was innocent, only confessing to the murders shortly before he was executed.) Joe Berlinger, the writer and director of the documentary, also directed the Bundy film Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, which stars heartthrob Zac Efron as the vicious killer and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this month. Much of the Netflix documentary focuses on how Bundy’s physical appearance—some might say, his attractiveness—fooled so many people into believing he was just a normal friend, boyfriend, neighbor, or colleague. Not long after the documentary was released (and perhaps exacerbated by Efron’s casting as Bundy), memes about Bundy’s “hotness” spread on social media—so many that Netflix came out and tweeted to instruct viewers to maybe not joke about the heinous killer and necrophile: A number of outlets picked up on the tweet, reporting that Netflix wants everyone to stop calling Bundy “hot” and lusting after the serial killer. Except, doesn’t the streaming service feed off these memes? Doesn’t it want Bundy, and its documentary specifically, to be a trending internet topic? Doesn’t it, deep down, need people to keep making dumb and insensitive Bundy memes? Netflix might not admit it, but helping generate a storm of memes is its whole public relations strategy. Because Netflix TV shows aren’t released weekly and Netflix films usually don’t come out in movie theaters, the streaming service has had to figure out another way to keep buzz about afloat for more than a day or two. The streamer’s answer has been to make its shows ubiquitous on the internet, to make conversations about them unavoidable: Its accounts retweet fan-made memes, craft memes of their own, tweet from corporate accounts in the third person, and more. Netflix is quietly pulling the strings on much of what you see on social media in response to its latest hit shows. Take Bird Box. There were so many memes for the apocalyptic thriller that Netflix was actually accused of making fan accounts to mimic grassroots interest in the film. (There wasn’t much evidence for these charges, but it probably wouldn’t shock anyone had Netflix really done that, given how often the company has been able to exploit the social media zeitgeist surrounding its viral film). When the “#BirdBoxChallenge” led people to walk into the street or drive cars blindfolded, Netflix tweeted pleading with people not to hurt themselves doing the viral challenge. It didn’t say anything about not doing the challenge at all. The challenge, in general, is amazing PR for Netflix. In fact, the mere act of commenting on the challenge likely boosted its popularity, continuing a cycle that benefited the streaming service. Its recent Fyre Festival documentary is another example. Andy King, one of the doomed festival’s producers, commented in the documentary that he was prepared to perform fellatio in return for acquiring water for the festival. Naturally, that spawned dozens of memes. The streaming service tweeted an interview in which he responds to those memes. It’s not hard to imagine this drew more viewers to Netflix’s documentary, which came out a few days after a competing documentary from Hulu. Netflix marketing executives know that these kinds of memes, whether they’re mostly innocuous or unfortunately glorifying a man convicted of unspeakable crimes, are good for business. They increase interest, drive up viewers, and, ultimately, boost subscriptions. Netflix might claim it doesn’t want you to think Ted Bundy was hot, but every time someone does, it’s another dollar in the streaming service’s pocket.<doc-sep>
(CNN) — What’s the deal with lusting over killers? Ted Bundy is back on a lot of people’s minds, with two projects on the serial killer in the news. First up, Netflix is streaming “Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes,” a docuseries about the man who confessed to more than two dozen murders before he was eventually executed in 1989. Meanwhile, a trailer for “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile” recently dropped with former teen heartthrob Zac Efron as Bundy, and once again people were talking about the charismatic killer. Apparently it was enough to make Netflix step up and tweet about all the Bundy thirst. I've seen a lot of talk about Ted Bundy’s alleged hotness and would like to gently remind everyone that there are literally THOUSANDS of hot men on the service — almost all of whom are not convicted serial murderers — Netflix (@netflix) January 28, 2019 “I’ve seen a lot of talk about Ted Bundy’s alleged hotness and would like to gently remind everyone that there are literally THOUSANDS of hot men on the service — almost all of whom are not convicted serial murderers,” said a tweet Monday from Netflix’s official account. There was even clapback from the official account when a follower responded, “But he’s hot though.” where — Netflix (@netflix) January 28, 2019 “Where,” Netflix tweeted in response. Bundy isn’t the only killer featured on Netflix that has inspired such interest. A fictional series, “You,” has been a hit, with Penn Badgley as a handsome killer willing to do whatever it takes to be a part of the life of a woman he’s fallen for.