The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Psychiatric Association and National Alliance on Mental Illness released a joint statement expressing disapproval of a talent search contest conducted by DC Comics that involved depicting the Harley Quinn as attempting suicide. The contest also created backlash online as some suggested the script was sexualizing suicide by depicting Harley Quinn to commit suicide naked in a tub.
The joint statement reads as follows:
We believe that instead of making light of suicide, DC Comics could have used this opportunity to host a contest looking for artists to depict a hopeful message that there is help for those in crisis. This would have been a positive message to send, especially to young readers.”
DC Comics has issued an apology to anyone who was offended and for not providing enough context surrounding the aim of the one page spread.
“The purpose of the talent search was to allow new artists an opportunity to draw a single page of a 20-page story. True to the nature of the character, the entire story is cartoony and over-the-top in tone, as Harley Quinn breaks the 4th Wall and satirizes the very scenes she appears in. DC Entertainment sincerely apologizes to anyone who may have found the page synopsis offensive and for not clearly providing the entire context of the scene within the full scope of the story.”