In a bittersweet reflection of its own title, Natasha Rothwell’s “How to Die Alone” has been canceled after one season.
The Hulu comedy followed the life of Mel (Rothwell), whom the show’s official synopsis describes as “a broke, fat, Black JFK Airport employee who’s never been in love and forgotten how to dream.”
In a statement to Variety, the actor shared her shock upon learning that the production company Onyx Collective, a Disney brand focused on creators of color and underrepresented communities, would not be renewing her series for a second season.
“I am shocked, heartbroken and frankly, baffled that Onyx has decided not to move forward with a second season of ‘How to Die Alone,’” Rothwell said. “This is a tough reality to accept because the show is an undeniable critical, creative and award-winning success.”
But with all things in life, there’s a lesson to be learned. Rothwell noted that, through this experience, she discovered the power of “resilience” — recalling how it took her eight years to bring her vision to life.
And amid the ongoing conservative attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion, the actor underscored the importance of programming “that amplifies unheard voices, and that prioritizes hiring and casting decisions that accurately reflect the diversity of the world.”
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Rothwell quoted the author Maya Angelou in her statement: “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”
On Instagram on Tuesday, Rothwell shared the heartbreaking news, admitting that it was “hard to comprehend.” She expressed deep sadness “for the incredible cast, crew, and writers who gave their all to tell this story.”
But, Rothwell said, she hopes this news will be nothing more than a “comma” in her career. And she is shopping “How to Die Alone” to other platforms in the meantime.