10 Shocking Facts About The '13 Reasons Why' Broom Scene That Continues To Haunt Twitter

The "broom scene" in Netflix's *13 Reasons Why* remains one of the most brutal and controversial moments in modern teen drama history. Even today, in December 2025, years after the show concluded, clips and discussions about the graphic sexual assault of the character Tyler Down continue to resurface and trend on social media platforms like Twitter (X) and TikTok, sparking renewed debate about the show's handling of sensitive topics.

This single, deeply disturbing sequence from the Season 2 finale, often referred to as the "broomstick scene" or "mop scene," cemented the series' reputation for provocative storytelling. While the show's creators argued it was a necessary depiction of male sexual violence, its explicit nature fueled intense backlash, mental health warnings, and a global conversation that still defines the show's legacy.

The Central Figures: A Brief Biography of Devin Druid and Timothy Granaderos

The emotional weight and controversy of the "broom scene" rest heavily on the shoulders of the two main actors involved: Devin Druid, who portrayed the victim, Tyler Down, and Timothy Granaderos, who played the perpetrator, Montgomery "Monty" de la Cruz. Here is a look at their profiles and careers.

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Devin Druid (Tyler Down)

• Full Name: David McKenzie Druid
• Date of Birth: January 27, 1998
• Birthplace: Richmond, Virginia, USA
• Role in 13RW: Tyler Down, a socially isolated student who becomes a victim of severe bullying and sexual assault.
• Notable Projects Before 13RW: *Louder Than Bombs* (2015), *Macbeth* (2015).
• Current Projects (Post-13RW): He has continued his career with roles in films like *The Pale Door* (2020) and the TV series *The Staircase* (2022), demonstrating a move toward more diverse and mature roles.
• Impact of the Role: Druid has spoken openly about the difficulty and importance of portraying such a traumatic storyline, emphasizing the need for dialogue around male sexual assault.

Timothy Granaderos (Montgomery de la Cruz)

• Full Name: Timothy Granaderos
• Date of Birth: September 9, 1986
• Birthplace: Portola Valley, California, USA
• Role in 13RW: Montgomery "Monty" de la Cruz, a violent bully and secondary antagonist who commits the brutal assault on Tyler Down.
• Notable Projects Before 13RW: *Tagged* (Web Series), *Runaways* (2017).
• Current Projects (Post-13RW): Granaderos has secured roles in various projects, including the TV series *Walker Independence* and the horror film *Who Invited Them* (2022). He has actively worked to separate his villainous on-screen persona from his real-life image.
• Impact of the Role: The role of Monty, particularly due to the broom scene, made him one of the most hated characters on television, a testament to the intensity of his performance.

The Anatomy of the Controversy: Why the Scene Went Viral

The "broom scene," which appears in the Season 2 finale episode titled "Bye," depicts Montgomery de la Cruz and his friends cornering Tyler Down in a school bathroom. They violently assault him with a mop or broom handle. The sheer brutality and explicit nature of the violence immediately sparked a massive public outcry and media scrutiny that went far beyond typical TV drama discussions.

The scene was criticized for several key reasons that fueled its virality on Twitter and Reddit:

• Explicit Violence: Critics and viewers argued the scene was unnecessarily graphic, crossing a line from depicting trauma to sensationalizing it. The level of detail was deemed exploitative, especially for the show's young adult target demographic.
• Repeat Offense: The controversy followed the backlash from Season 1's graphic suicide scene, which Netflix eventually edited out years later. The inclusion of another highly explicit trauma scene in Season 2 led many to accuse the show of using shock value for ratings.
• Mental Health Impact: Mental health organizations and watchdogs, including the Parents Television Council, urged Netflix to cancel the series, citing its "potentially harmful content" and the risk of triggering vulnerable viewers.
• The Nature of the Assault: The scene highlighted the underrepresented issue of male sexual assault and sodomy. While many appreciated the show tackling this important topic, the execution was widely panned as irresponsible.

Brian Yorkey's Defense and the Show's Creative Intent

In the wake of the intense global reaction, series creator Brian Yorkey issued a strong defense of the scene, arguing that its graphic nature was essential to the story and its message. His justification became a major talking point and a key entity in the ongoing discussion about the scene.

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The Argument for Brutality

Yorkey's core defense was that showing the assault in its full, painful reality was necessary to convey the devastating impact of such violence. He stated that to sanitize the scene would be to diminish the severity of what Tyler experienced.

"We stand behind the decision to show the truth of the horror of that experience," Yorkey stated, implying that the discomfort and outrage were the intended emotional responses. The creative team felt they had a responsibility to show the "ugly and painful" reality of sexual violence, particularly against a male victim, to ensure the audience understood the depth of the character's trauma and the seriousness of the crime.

The Context of Tyler's Story Arc

The assault was positioned as the breaking point for Tyler Down, pushing him to the brink of committing a school shooting in the Season 2 finale. The scene was meant to serve as the ultimate catalyst for his planned act of violence, illustrating how extreme trauma can lead to extreme actions. This narrative choice, however, was also controversial, with critics arguing it conflated victimhood with becoming a potential perpetrator.

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The Enduring Legacy on Social Media and Pop Culture

Despite the show ending in 2020, the "13 Reasons Why broom scene" continues to be a viral entity, frequently trending on Twitter and other platforms. This is due to several factors:

• Trauma Recurrence: The scene is so visceral that it remains a benchmark for shocking TV moments. New viewers discovering the series often post their real-time reactions, driving the keyword "13 reasons why broom scene twitter" back into trending topics.
• Actor Association: Both Devin Druid and Timothy Granaderos still field questions about the scene in interviews and on their social media, demonstrating the long-term professional impact of such high-stakes, controversial roles.
• Ethical Debate: The scene remains a case study in media ethics—the ongoing debate over the responsibility of content creators when depicting sexual violence, suicide, and self-harm. It is frequently referenced in discussions about "trauma porn" versus "necessary realism" in television.
• Unforgettable Villain: Monty de la Cruz, largely due to this single act, is remembered as one of the most despicable villains in Netflix history, ensuring the scene's perpetuation in "most shocking TV moments" lists.

Ultimately, the "broom scene" in *13 Reasons Why* transcended its role as a plot point. It became a cultural flashpoint that forced a global, uncomfortable, and necessary conversation about male sexual assault and the ethical limits of graphic storytelling in entertainment. Its continued presence on social media confirms its status as an unforgettable, albeit deeply troubling, piece of pop culture history.