Netflix's new show 'Bonding' is being dragged by sex workers

30 April 2019, 15:37

By Jazmin Duribe

The series was based on the experiences of writer, producer and director Rightor Doyle.

Netflix's new series Bonding is being criticised by sex workers and viewers for not accurately showing how the dominatrix community actually works. The show hfollows the real-life story of a gay man who becomes a dominatrix's assistant.

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Mistress May (Zoe Levin) is a student in New York City that acts as a dominatrix in-between her classes. Her BFF Pete (Brendan Scannell) reluctantly keeps her underground life ticking over by becoming her right-hand man and bodyguard whilst she meets clients, all while growing more confident in his own sexuality.

The NSFW series hit Netflix earlier this week, but some members of the dominatrix community are calling the show out for not appearing to have consulted sex workers on the storyline and the accuracy of the script.

A scene from Netflix show Bonding. Picture: Netflix

Some have said it can be considered problematic to portray sex work in this way.

Hey @NetflixLifee @netflix how about you get actual BDSMrs to write and consult on a show about our community instead of whatever #BondingNetflix is. As a lifestyler and sex worker I'm not impressed with how badly you are portraying us. Do better #BondingNetflixisnotkink
— NicoleMoonONeal (@NicoleMoonONeal) April 25, 2019

Hey Netflix. Do better and do some actual research when making a show about a profession that faces social ridicule, is unfairly stereotyped and is currently dealing with the effects of fosta/sesta. This is a powder puff representation of something that hard working people do.
— oppaibby💕 seattle 🛬 la (@oppaibby) April 26, 2019

Watching #bondingnetflix and want to know who the fuck was their BDSM consult on this??? The Domme’s corset doesn’t fit and she is wearing a fucking dog collar into session. Vanilla people should not be allowed to write/portray kink.
— Megan McCord (@Megan_McCord) April 25, 2019

Didn't *HATE* #BONDiNGNetflix, but I didn't like it either. Painfully obvious no one was consulted on this, though "Based on a true story." Was he an "assistant" for a week, 20 years ago with a fuzzy memory?
— Domina M in Paris (@DominaM) April 25, 2019

Others have noted even more issues, including how consent is handled in the series, the lack of ethnic diversity, and the way it has dealt with sexual assault.

I understand that this is meant to be a comedic line.

It isn't funny.

It goes against the idea of Safe, Sane, Consensual (SSC) / Risk Aware Consensual Kink (R.A.C.K.).

Keywords being aware and consensual! pic.twitter.com/kkewh1XVDU
— 🇨🇦Lacey Louix⚰️ (@LaceyPlaces) April 24, 2019

Dear @netflix please explain why @bondingnetflix can’t seem to wear gear that actually fits her or understands CONSENT. #bondingnetflix
— Megan McCord (@Megan_McCord) April 25, 2019

The main thing that bothered me was not only the missed opportunity to bring in the theme of consent in a clever way, but in #BondingNetflix consent is horrifically absent. Consent is something the BDSM community, and especially the PRO BDSM community learned very well.
— Domina M in Paris (@DominaM) April 25, 2019

Another serious gripe for views is how Netflix has been allowed to have a Twitter account run by the dominatrix character Mistress May, while real-life sex workers have had their accounts removed or restricted.

This is in such bad taste. Operating this account like an actual domme account when real dommes are shut down and shadowbanned all the time. Yuck. Throw the whole concept away. Ew.
— Sabina Magic (@sab_magic) April 24, 2019

As a Dominatrix I appreciate that there are more representations of what I do in mainstream media

But opening a character social media account where we are shadowbanned and deleted... It is depressing to see you validated and us silenced.

Please reconsider what you are doing.
— MISTRESS EVA (@youwillpleaseME) April 25, 2019

Things we can stop:
1. Using the lack of consent as a punchline (y i k e s)
2. Creating shows based around sex work with no representation beyond "hot white domme" (especially as misinformed as it is)
3. This whole Twitter account

Go support ACTUAL SEX WORKERS.
— Eydis (@MissEydis) April 26, 2019

Nonetheless, some people have actually enjoyed the series and thought it was a refreshing insight into the Domme world.

#Bonding on Netflix is very good. Watch it. 🍆 pic.twitter.com/rVJHKazOxn
— Jon H. Ryan (@lukeacl) April 25, 2019

In case anyone was wondering #Bonding on @netflix is fucking hilarious.
— Lauren Cox (@Iaurencox) April 26, 2019

Okay so #Bonding (on @netflix ) was hecking cute: it's a sex-positive, super queer, charming show about a gay man who's best friends with a dominatrix, and so she hires him to be her assistant, and shenanigans ensue.

Everyone is so supportive of each other & delightful! https://t.co/NHumqOyunP
— A. Merc Rustad [THEY/THEM] (forged in the void) (@Merc_Rustad) April 24, 2019