‘Westworld’ Spoilers: HBO Exec Says Violence In Show Is Not Just Specific To Women

HBO’s new sci-fi show “Westworld” has already drawn criticism before its air date because of its constant use of violence against women. Just like “Game of Thrones,” which is a hit TV show from HBO, “Westworld” seems to target women and show scenes that highlight abuse against them.

But HBO programming president Casey Bloys clarified that they are not targeting women. “I can tell you the violence, it’s not just specific to women. It’s indiscriminate, plenty of men are killed as well,” she said, according to Film School Rejects.

But show co-creator Lisa Joy had a better explanation for the use of violence. “When we were tackling a project about a park with a premise where you can do whatever you want, whatever you desire without impunity or consequence, it seemed like the issue had to be addressed,” she said.

“Violence and sexual violence have been a fact of human history since the beginning,” she continued. “There’s something about us — thankfully not the majority of us — but there are people who have engaged in violence and who are victims of violence.”

Joy and her husband Jonathan Nolan, who is the co-creator of the show, are actually prepared to handle people’s controversial reactions to the show. “We expect the show to be thought-provoking, because it’s thought-provoking for us,” Joy told Wired.

Whenever she plays Grand Theft Auto, Joy said she sympathizes with the characters there, so she doesn’t go on a killing spree every chance she gets. “When other people turn off the game, they don’t think, ‘Oh my goodness, I just ran over four pedestrians, how terrible. I wonder if their family has health insurance?’ Now, as technology develops, you start to wonder: Where is that line where it becomes immoral not to have empathy, even if you know that these creatures are artificial?” she continued.

“Westworld” will be released on HBO on Sunday, Oct. 2, at 9 p.m. ET, reported Variety.