Charity issues warning over ‘dark’ and ‘upsetting’ scene in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story

A charity has had to issue a warning about a scene in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story that some people may find incredibly upsetting. 

Ryan Murphy’s latest Monster instalment arrived on Netflix last week and follows the real-life story of the American woman who was accused of killing her father and stepmother in Fall River, Massachusetts, in August 1892. The case went to trial, and Borden was acquitted, which means she legally didn’t do it. But The Lizzie Borden Story explores the possibility that she did commit the crimes. 

In the fourth episode, there is an incredibly upsetting scene where a newborn baby is murdered just seconds after the mother gave birth. 

Lizzie and her maid Bridget are reading a book about Elizabeth Báthory in the scene, the Countess and serial killer who allegedly tortured and killed over 600 women in the 16th to 17th centuries.

Credit: Netflix

It then flashes back to the part they are reading, where a peasant is “raped three times and fell pregnant”. After that, you see the peasant give birth. Then, the baby is drowned in a bowl of water in an incredibly graphic and upsetting scene.

“They drowned her baby before she’d even had a chance to name her,” Lizzie reads. “When her father’s land entitled fell to her, she could finally seek her revenge.”

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The scene has received a lot of backlash online, with one person writing on Reddit: “There’s a very graphic scene involving the murder of a newborn immediately after birth in front of the baby’s horrified mother. It made me throw up in my mouth and I’m usually good with violence and dark topics.

“Motherhood changed me and I’m still remembering that. However, I do wish there had been a trigger warning because it leaves nothing to the imagination. Viewer discretion advised, especially for all you mamas and mamas-to-be. I wish I could unsee it but I’m happy to help spare others.”

National baby loss charity Sands has since shared a trigger warning statement on Facebook to alert people of the scene and advise them not to watch it.

“We wanted to let you know that the Netflix series, Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, features the death of a baby in episode four, which some of you may find upsetting. Please remember that we are here for you if this has affected you,” they wrote. 

It comes after people were also sharing a warning over the dinner scene in episode two, which is horrendous for people who struggle with emetophobia.

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