Controversial Netflix series Insatiable has been renewed for a second season. Photo / Netflix
Controversial Netflix series Insatiable has been renewed for a second season despite being panned by both viewers and TV critics.
The streaming giant confirmed the news on Twitter on Wednesday with the decision receiving a predictably mixed reaction.
The series sparked a backlash before it even aired, with Insatiable accused of promoting "fat shaming" with main character Patty, who finds herself suddenly the centre of attention after losing weight.
A change.org petition exists with more than 235,000 signatures calling on Netflix to cancel the show.
Controversy around Netflix shows is nothing new, with 13 Reasons Why also attracting criticism for its handling of teen suicide.
But Insatiable also proved unfavourable with critics who labelled the series difficult to watch and not funny.
"Insatiable is insufferable — bad TV, on any scale, by any measure. The wannabe-Heathers is boring-as-hell, its characters barely rise above caricature, its storyline, such as it is, meanders about with no purpose and it's tonally all over the place," news.com.au's own TV critic Wenlei Ma wrote.
"In other words, it's a hot mess. The kind of hot mess you want to banish into the ether, never to be chanced upon by any human eyes ever again."
Insatiable star Debbie Ryan has previously defended her role in the series, writing on Twitter that she "cares deeply" about women's bodies.
"Over the last few days I've seen how many voices are protective and fiercely outspoken about the themes that come to play in this story," she said.
"I was drawn to this show's willingness to go to real places about how difficult and scary it can be to move through a world in a body, whether you're being praised or criticised for its size, and what it feels like to pray to be ignored because it's easier than being seen."
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