MANILA, Philippines— Penn Badgley and Shay Mitchell, the stars of hit Netflix original series “You,” recently gave a different perspective to its viewers as to why they should not admire Penn's “Joe Goldberg” character.
Joe, is a brilliant bookstore manager of fictional boutique bookstore Mooney’s, who uses the internet and social media as his tools to gather the most intimate details about his love interest, Beck played by Elizabeth Lail.
The psychological thriller series is based on Caroline Kepnes’ best-selling novel of the same name, “You.”
Penn said he along with those who made the show “should take responsibility” for the response to the series and his character, Joe.
“First of all, we who made the show should take responsibility because he is a charming guy. That was obviously what they wanted. They wanted me to be charming,” Penn said during the In Conversation with You event in Makati City on Monday.
Penn stressed that viewers should be aware that although Joe is charming, he has a tendency to be dangerous.
“To me, he's not a real person, he's meant to represent what is inside all of us, you know, the internet troll. Joe, in some way, is the internet troll made real. He is terrifying, a serial killer,” Penn said during the panel interview.
“If we're not careful, Joe can maybe bring out the Joe in us,” he added.
Penn’s co-star, Filipino-Canadian actress Shay Mitchell who plays Peach Salinger, also shared the same sentiment as him. Shay described Joe’s character as “creepy.”
“Joe is a psychopath. I mean he is, and I have to be honest because I have to really defend that side of him because so many people are falling in love and I’m like: ‘Wait, what are we watching the same show?’” Shay said.
“Now, look, I know that he has likable characters to him but you can’t have the rest of it not be seen you know— that kills people,” he said.
Penn warned the viewers that people with psychological profile are “often quite charming” and “attractive” and that was what the show was trying to tell.
He said it’s a matter of determining how far the public is willing to forgive a “problematic” character.
Penn said they are happy with the response the show has received worldwide.
“We have managed to entertain, thrill and scare… the show has highlighted conversations around consent, victim blaming, stalking and privacy — disturbing things that Joe does, which shouldn’t be considered normal,” he said.
Earlier, Penn has been informing his followers on social media on how his character Joe should” not be romanticized.”
Penn previously played Dan Humphrey in TV series Gossip Girl, a character likened by some fans to his role in “You.”
...of problems, right? https://t.co/9NmOGWvSYb
— Penn Badgley (@PennBadgley) January 9, 2019
Ditto. It will be all the motivation I need for season 2. https://t.co/fy2hojauDG
— Penn Badgley (@PennBadgley) January 9, 2019
A: He is a murderer https://t.co/g2g4f3JvaF
— Penn Badgley (@PennBadgley) January 9, 2019
The “You” stars were in Manila this week to promote their series. They met with Filipino fans in Makati City last Tuesday evening.
The series has been renewed for season 2 which will be aired late 2019.