NETFLIX has come under pressure to cancel its controversial series 13 Reasons Why after the show aired a male rape scene.

The second series was released on Friday but has already faced calls in the US to be pulled.

4 Dylan Minnette (centre) in the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why Credit: AP:Associated Press

Based on the best-selling novel Jay Asher in 2007 the adaptation follows high school student Clay, played by Dylan Minnette, who finds 13 tapes from fellow student and crush Hannah Baker, who killed herself.

The series has been heavily criticised for including a scene where a student, Tyler, is raped in a toilet by bully Monty.

Tyler is left in the toilet crying - and it's implied this convinces him he should carry out a high school gun massacre in revenge.

US pressure group Parents Television Council called for Netflix to pull the show from its streaming service "because of its potential to harm teens and children," due to examples of "potentially harmful content" in its storylines.

4 The creator of the show has defended its hard-hitting content Credit: Netflix

4 The US pressure group PTC has called for Netflix to pull the show Credit: Netflix

PTC's President Tim Winter said: “Netflix has delivered a ticking time bomb to teens and children who watch 13 Reasons Why.

“The content and thematic elements of the second season are even worse than we expected.

“We would have liked to have 13 reasons for hope and redemption following the graphic suicide of the lead female teen character, but rather than providing a path forward, the season only provides cause for despondency.”

Brian Yorkey, the show’s creator told Vulture: "We fully understand that that means some of the scenes in the show will be difficult to watch.

"I think Netflix has helped provide viewers with lots of resources for understanding that this may not be the show for everybody, and also resources for people who do watch it and are troubled and need help.

4 Mandy Teefy, the show's executive producer said the scenes were shocking but not gratuitous Credit: Netflix

"But the fact is that, as intense as that scene is, and as strong as the reactions to it may be, it doesn't even come close to the pain experienced by the people who actually go through these things."

The show’s executive producer Mandy Teefey has also defended the show’s content.

She told ET Online: “I wouldn’t tell anybody how to parent their own child. That’s up to them.

“I feel that we gave it as a platform and a tool to be [able for parents and kids to have a] dialogue."

Ms Teefey added: "The fact that we’re talking about it and that it was so talked about, that was our goal."

Asked specifically about the rape scene, she said: “I would just suggest that they Google the news.

"There’s nothing that anybody ever has put or had the desire in our group to make anything gratuitous or shock value.

Music video for Selena Gomez's Back To You from season two of 13 Reasons Why

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“It’s shocking, it’s horrific, but it’s happening. There’s videos that people post and that’s online forever. It’s [in] the culture, so just look it up and educate yourself that you need look out for this.”

Actor Justin Prentice, who plays Bryce in the show said: “I see where they are coming from, but at the same time, one of the jobs of our show is to reflect reality.

"This stuff is already going on in these high schools. These kids are already experiencing it in their day-to-day lives.

"Having a show where we address these issues -- even if you don’t necessarily agree with the way that we address them -- the fact that we are addressing them and having these conversations, it bridges the gap if parents wanted to watch it with their children."

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