Netflix show slammed for ‘distasteful’ resemblance to jumping castle tragedy

The streaming service claimed the series is not based on a true story, but some viewers aren’t buying it, labelling it "poor taste" and "tacky". 

The Tasmanian premier has slammed Netflix for its new drama series, which painfully resembles the Hillcrest Primary jumping castle tragedy that saw six children killed and several others injured.

The 10-episode drama series, The Accident, which dropped on August 28, follows a close-knit community celebrating at a child’s birthday party when a jumping castle becomes airborne in a huge gust of wind. The shattered families must then determine who was at fault for the tragedy. 

While Netflix claimed it was not based on a true story, the series has sparked a severe backlash from Australians and viewers online for its “poor taste” depiction of the horrific tragedy. 

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Netflix has been slammed for its drama series The Accident. Picture: Netflix

Netflix slammed for ‘insensitive’ drama series

Netflix claims the series was “fictional” and not inspired by true events; however, the streaming platform explained the tragedy was a common occurrence in the US. 

“As unbelievable as it may seem, bouncy houses can and very much have flown away before, much to the horror of the parents involved,” the website read. 

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The streaming platform cited statistics from the American Meteorological Society, stating that at least 28 people died, and 479 were injured on jumping castles blown away by wind between 2000 and 2021. 

However, many viewers highlighted its painful resemblance to the 2021 Hillcrest Primary tragedy, which saw six children killed and injured three others. 

In December 2021, a jumping castle and several inflatable Zorb balls were lifted and swept up by a gust of wind during an end-of-year celebration at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport, Tasmania.

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The wind blew the jumping castle 10 metres in the air, causing the children to fall to the ground, resulting in the death of six children, Chace Harrison, 12, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, 12, Zane Mellor, 12, Addison Stewart, 11, Jye Sheehan, 12 and Peter Dodt, 12.

Rosemary Gamble - trading as Taz-Zorb, the company that set up and supplied the jumping castle - was charged with failing to comply with a health and safety duty in a way that exposed the children to a risk of death or serious injury. In February 2024, Gamble pleaded not guilty; the next court hearing is scheduled for November. 

The 2021 tragedy is not the only instance of a child being killed by an airborne jumping castle. 

In August, a five-year-old boy was killed, and another was injured at a baseball game in Maryland. after a jumping castle was blown into the air by a gust of wind; two months earlier, a 2yo was tragically killed in a similar incident in Arizona. 

RELATED: 'I am empty': Mum of Tasmanian jumping castle victim shares unimaginable grief

Six children died in the jumping castle tragedy in December 2021. Image: Supplied

“This is pretty gross”

Following the release of the series, Tasmanian locals and online viewers slammed the depiction, arguing it was a “shocking” and “tacky” move from the streaming platform.

Many viewers argued the series wasn't created in good faith, instead “exploiting” the deaths of the children, therefore lessening the severity and seriousness of the horrific incident. 

At the House of Assembly on Tuesday, Tasmanian premier Jeremy Rockliff slammed the “distasteful Netflix series depicting a jumping castle disaster” and said that a "massive insensitivity was on display" before demanding an apology from the global streaming platform. 

“Netflix should apologise to the community,” he said, per Pulse Tasmania. 

“This movie is of very poor taste,” read a comment. “Kind of heartless to even make something like this,” said another. One said: “The way this scene was shot was so ridiculous it was hard to take seriously, which is unfortunate given its basis in reality.”

“Children have recently lost their lives like this, and it’s been happening yearly, it seems,” someone added. “Boo Netflix, do better!”

“Netflix should pull this from their platform,” another demanded. “This is pretty gross,” a person agreed. 

The depiction of the tragic and horrific tragedy was also slammed, with many comparing it to a “scene from a … soap opera” and others comparing it to a “comedy”. 

“This scene plays like a parody instead of something based on real-life tragedy,” a shocked viewer wrote.  “I feel bad for laughing but they literally turned this into a comedy,” a comment read.

Originally published as Netflix show slammed for ‘distasteful’ resemblance to jumping castle tragedy