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Türkiye’s media regulator, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK), has launched a formal investigation into the HBO Max series Jasmine following a wave of public complaints over scenes widely described as explicit.
The move comes after the first episode sparked intense debate, with critics arguing that the content crossed accepted social and moral boundaries.
Jasmine, which began streaming on HBO Max, quickly drew attention for scenes that many viewers found provocative.
Discussion intensified on social media and in the press in the days following the premiere, turning the series into a national talking point.
The series centers on Jasmine, a young woman living under the shadow of a fatal heart condition, whose survival depends on reaching the transplant list before time runs out.
With her emotionally dependent and obsessive stepbrother Tufan as her only constant support, her fight for life gradually pulls them into a hidden world of illegal networks and ethically troubling decisions.
In a desperate attempt to secure both medical access and financial stability, Jasmine works as an escort, using the income to sustain their fragile life together and to bribe her way through a corrupt transplant system.
As hope, survival, and morality become increasingly entangled, the series follows how illness and desperation push its characters toward choices that permanently reshape their bond and their sense of right and wrong.
The backlash prompted RTUK, the public authority responsible for regulating broadcast and digital media content in Türkiye, to step in after receiving multiple complaints.
In its official statement, RTUK said it had initiated a review of Jasmine because the production allegedly targeted the family structure, which it described as a cornerstone of Turkish society, and conflicted with national and moral values.
The regulator also pointed to claims that the series exploited women and included content deemed contrary to public decency.
RTUK stated in full that an investigation had been launched into the digital production Jasmine due to content that allegedly “targets the family structure forming the basis of Turkish society, clearly contradicts national and moral values, exploits women, and violates general moral standards.”
Retaining its position, the regulator underlined that broadcasting activities should not harm society’s moral values, cultural fabric or the institution of the family.
RTUK stressed that this responsibility carries even greater weight for digital platforms, given their reach among young people and children.
The statement noted that monitoring and evaluation experts were continuing their review with care and that, within the framework of existing legislation, necessary steps would be taken decisively against content seen as damaging to family life or social values.
RTUK added that it would continue to fulfill its duty to protect moral and cultural values, as it had done in the past.
The series has also drawn interest because its lead role is played by Asena Keskinci, an actor known to Turkish audiences from the popular children’s series Bez Bebek.
Her involvement has amplified public discussion, particularly around the contrast between her earlier work and the themes attributed to Jasmine.
The investigation remains ongoing, with RTUK indicating that any further action will depend on the outcome of its review under current media regulations.
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