Content & Trigger Warnings for American Crime Story (2016)
19 content warnings identified across 3 seasons for this show.
Quick Summary
Yes, American Crime Story (2016) contains 19 content warnings : Hate crimes (depicted), Homophobia / transphobia (depicted), Racial slurs / racism (depicted), Stalking / harassment, Grief / bereavement (major focus), Suicide (discussed or ideation), Gaslighting / emotional manipulation, Infidelity, Blood / medical gore, Age-gap relationships (predatory), Explicit sexual content / nudity, Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations, Drug use (depicted), Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse, Gore / graphic violence, Gun violence, Police brutality, Self-harm / suicide (depicted), Sexual assault / rape.
The most severe warnings are for Hate crimes (depicted) (severity 4/5), Homophobia / transphobia (depicted) (severity 5/5), Racial slurs / racism (depicted) (severity 5/5), Stalking / harassment (severity 4/5), Grief / bereavement (major focus) (severity 4/5), Gaslighting / emotional manipulation (severity 5/5), Infidelity (severity 4/5), Blood / medical gore (severity 4/5), Age-gap relationships (predatory) (severity 4/5), Explicit sexual content / nudity (severity 4/5), Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations (severity 5/5), Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse (severity 5/5), Gore / graphic violence (severity 4/5), Gun violence (severity 4/5), Sexual assault / rape (severity 5/5).
Check the full breakdown below before you watch.
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Does It Get Worse?
6 series-wide warnings apply across all seasons.
| Warning | Season | Severity | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identity & Discrimination | ||||
| Hate crimes (depicted) | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | The broader context of violence against the LGBTQ+ community is explored |
| Hate crimes (depicted) | All | 4/5 | Depicted | The murder of Gianni Versace is depicted as connected to anti-gay hatred and homophobic violence. |
| Homophobia / transphobia (depicted) | S2 | 5/5 | Depicted | Gianni Versace's murder was driven by homophobia; anti-gay discrimination is pervasive |
| Racial slurs / racism (depicted) | S1 | 5/5 | Depicted | Racial tensions are central — Mark Fuhrman's racism, LAPD history, racial dynamics of the trial |
| Stalking / harassment | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | OJ's pattern of stalking Nicole before the murders is depicted |
| Stalking / harassment | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | Cunanan's obsessive stalking behavior toward victims is shown in detail |
| Stalking / harassment | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Linda Tripp's secret recording and monitoring of Lewinsky |
| Mental Health & Emotional | ||||
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Families of the victims are shown grieving throughout the trial process |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | Impact of the murders on victims' families and the gay community |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Lewinsky's emotional devastation as her private life becomes public |
| Suicide (discussed or ideation) | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Lewinsky's mental health crisis during the investigation is addressed |
| Other | ||||
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Legal manipulation and narrative distortion are central to the trial proceedings |
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S3 | 5/5 | Depicted | Monica Lewinsky is gaslit by multiple parties including Linda Tripp and the political establishment |
| Infidelity | S3 | 4/5 | Depicted | Presidential infidelity is the central scandal driving the entire narrative |
| Phobias & Sensory | ||||
| Blood / medical gore | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Blood evidence is central to the case and shown repeatedly |
| Blood / medical gore | All | 4/5 | Depicted | Significant blood shown in crime scenes and murder recreations across seasons. |
| Sexual Content | ||||
| Age-gap relationships (predatory) | S3 | 4/5 | Depicted | The president's relationship with a young intern highlights extreme power imbalance |
| Explicit sexual content / nudity | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | Gay sexual content is depicted as part of the characters' lives and relationships |
| Explicit sexual content / nudity | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Sexual content related to the affair is depicted with moderate detail |
| Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | Cunanan's manipulative sexual relationships involve elements of coercion |
| Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations | S3 | 5/5 | Depicted | The Clinton-Lewinsky power dynamic and sexual exploitation is the central focus |
| Substance Use | ||||
| Drug use (depicted) | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | Drug use in the party scene and Cunanan's lifestyle |
| Violence & Physical Harm | ||||
| Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse | S1 | 5/5 | Depicted | Nicole Brown Simpson's abuse by OJ is depicted and discussed extensively |
| Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse | All | 5/5 | Depicted | The O.J. Simpson season depicts domestic violence as a central theme with graphic recreations. |
| Gore / graphic violence | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Crime scene photos and bloody evidence are shown throughout the trial |
| Gore / graphic violence | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | Murder scenes and their aftermath are shown with moderate graphic detail |
| Gore / graphic violence | All | 4/5 | Depicted | Crime scene depictions including the murders in the O.J. season and the Versace murder are graphic. |
| Gun violence | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | Andrew Cunanan's murder spree is depicted including the killing of Versace |
| Police brutality | S1 | 3/5 | Referenced | LAPD's history of racism and brutality against Black communities is discussed extensively |
| Self-harm / suicide (depicted) | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | Cunanan's death by suicide at the end of his spree |
| Self-harm / suicide (depicted) | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Andrew Cunanan's suicide is depicted in the Versace season. |
| Sexual assault / rape | S1 | 2/5 | Referenced | Referenced in context of Nicole's abuse but not graphically depicted |
| Sexual assault / rape | All | 5/5 | Depicted | Season 1 (People v. O.J.) addresses domestic violence; Season 2 (Versace) depicts sexual assault extensively; Season 3 (Impeachment) covers sexual misconduct. |
Identity & Discrimination
The broader context of violence against the LGBTQ+ community is explored
The murder of Gianni Versace is depicted as connected to anti-gay hatred and homophobic violence.
Gianni Versace's murder was driven by homophobia; anti-gay discrimination is pervasive
Racial tensions are central — Mark Fuhrman's racism, LAPD history, racial dynamics of the trial
OJ's pattern of stalking Nicole before the murders is depicted
Cunanan's obsessive stalking behavior toward victims is shown in detail
Mental Health & Emotional
Families of the victims are shown grieving throughout the trial process
Impact of the murders on victims' families and the gay community
Lewinsky's emotional devastation as her private life becomes public
Lewinsky's mental health crisis during the investigation is addressed
Other
Legal manipulation and narrative distortion are central to the trial proceedings
Monica Lewinsky is gaslit by multiple parties including Linda Tripp and the political establishment
Presidential infidelity is the central scandal driving the entire narrative
Phobias & Sensory
Significant blood shown in crime scenes and murder recreations across seasons.
Sexual Content
The president's relationship with a young intern highlights extreme power imbalance
Gay sexual content is depicted as part of the characters' lives and relationships
Sexual content related to the affair is depicted with moderate detail
Cunanan's manipulative sexual relationships involve elements of coercion
The Clinton-Lewinsky power dynamic and sexual exploitation is the central focus
Substance Use
Violence & Physical Harm
Nicole Brown Simpson's abuse by OJ is depicted and discussed extensively
The O.J. Simpson season depicts domestic violence as a central theme with graphic recreations.
Crime scene photos and bloody evidence are shown throughout the trial
Murder scenes and their aftermath are shown with moderate graphic detail
Crime scene depictions including the murders in the O.J. season and the Versace murder are graphic.
Andrew Cunanan's murder spree is depicted including the killing of Versace
LAPD's history of racism and brutality against Black communities is discussed extensively
Cunanan's death by suicide at the end of his spree
Andrew Cunanan's suicide is depicted in the Versace season.
Referenced in context of Nicole's abuse but not graphically depicted
Season 1 (People v. O.J.) addresses domestic violence; Season 2 (Versace) depicts sexual assault extensively; Season 3 (Impeachment) covers sexual misconduct.
