Girlboss is cancelled, but it should never have aired
Netflix announced on the 25th of June that original series Girlboss, based on the autobiography of Nasty Gal founder Sophia Amoruso, would not be coming back for a second series. This is hardly shocking considering the mixed to negative reviews it received upon it’s release. The surprising thing is that it was ever allowed to be made.
In the first place, the show was bland and un-engaging. Predictable humour and underwhelming performances made sure it was never going to be a ratings winner. It can’t even belong to the so-bad-it’s-good category because it was so boring, a real feat for a Netflix original series which are mostly always so, so good.
The titular ‘girl boss’ based on Amoruso is uninspiring when she really should have the audience rooting for her. Sophia is whiny and unrelatable. It's impossible to get behind her character and enjoy her success with her when she acts like such a child. A medal of endurance should be awarded to anyone who managed to make it past the first episode.
The moment she bid goodbye to her friend with “love you in case I die!”, I said goodbye to the hope that this show would get any better. Sophia is a misguided attempt to create an underdog that will become a successful female role model. This attempt is easily undermined when she rejects financial help from her father in favour of going through the bins to eat. Blame cannot be laid at the feat of Britt Robertson who plays Sophia however, it’s the writing that is the real problem. Sophia doesn’t come across as charmingly irresponsible, she’s just a narcissistic mess.
Failings of the show itself aside, the fact that Netflix even made the attempt of an empowered underdog story on Amuroso is ridiculous. Although Amoruso only filed for bankruptcy last November, Netflix can’t plead ignorance when her demise began before production started. 2015 saw the start of a series of lawsuits that tarnished her business and reputation as reported by the New York Times. Four employees claimed they were fired by the company after becoming pregnant. Another said she was fired after the company let her healthcare lapse when she was suffering from advanced kidney failure.
Regardless of whether Amoruso had a direct involvement in these particular cases or not, they came from the business she created. In a 2015 Jezebel expose, many employees said they found their work environment toxic, an environment that Amoruso had made. Employees said she was more concerned about being a celebrity than actually caring for her staff or successfully running a business. The fact that she had the audacity to call her autobiography 'Girlboss' when she runs a company that does not care about women is astounding. Turns out the Nasty Gal founder actually is, well, a nasty gal.
Female entrepreneurship is hugely important and it should be portrayed on popular mediums like Netflix to inspire other women. Girlboss failed miserably by letting the story of a woman who created a business with internalised misogyny at it’s heart be heard.
Written by Amy.
What are your thoughts on Girlboss and it's cancellation?
Oh and the Girlboss book is way better than the Netflix series, which you can buy here or listen to on Audible, which City Girls can get a subscription to at just £3.99 a month for the first three months.
Disclaimer: Whilst Amy's opinions are entirely her own, this post contains affiliate links, which enables us to make a small commission if you decide to buy any of these products. This money helps us to keep the lights on.