Joining HBO’s iconic Sunday lineup this weekend is the provocative newest venture from British screenwriter/actress Michaela Coel. With I MAY DESTROY YOU, the Chewing Gum creator unapologetically explores the circumstances of sexual trauma recovery, through the accessible lens of an engaging narrator.
I MAY DESTROY YOU follows Arabella, an author from London who has successfully made a name for herself as a voice for millennial women. However, as the pilot episode details her struggling to make work deadlines and trying to navigate her personal relationships, a traumatic nightclub event stops her life in its tracks. The show’s balancing of lighthearted moments and heavy experiences transcends genre, and artfully reflects life’s unpredictable fluctuations. Time, unfortunately, doesn’t stop after life-changing tragedies, and I MAY DESTROY YOU represents recovery less as a stepping stone and more as a winding journey.
As a part of the show’s rollout during society’s current hyper-virtual era, I MAY DESTROY YOU has set up a campaign for viewers to get more involved in confronting their own recovery and wellness. With the “Gathering the Pieces” Instagram Live campaign, HBO has partnered with a number of experts and influencers to provide viewers with a space to unpack the series and explore its topics beyond watching the show itself. “Gathering the Pieces” will feature a host of well-known voices like Angela Yee and Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, but kicking off the campaign will be a premiere night conversation with the cast of the show. I MAY DESTROY YOU premieres this Sunday, June 7 at 10:30 p.m. ET on HBO. Below, check out the schedule for “Gathering The Pieces.”
June 7, 5:00 PM ET: Refinery29’s Unbothered Presents Real Talk: A Conversation with Michaela Coel and the Cast of I MAY DESTROY YOU (@r29unbothered)
June 8, 12:00 PM, ET: The Power of “I AM” – Manifestations and Journaling Workshop with Lauren Ash (@hellolaurenash)
9:00 PM, ET: The Politics of Pleasure + Intimacy with Penda N’Diaye (@pendajai) and Evyan Whitney (@evyan.whitney)
June 9, 12:00 PM, ET: Breaking Up: Friendships + Relationships with Tracy G. (@itstracyg) and J. Wesley (@writehiswrongs)
9:00 PM, ET: The Tell All: Dating + Relationships with Angela Yee (@angelayee) and Michael Arcenaux (@youngsinick)
June 10, 12:00 PM, ET: Understanding Cannabis and the Brain with Mary Pryor (@msmarypryor) and Dr. Ayana Jordan (@drayanajordan)
9:00 PM, ET: Finding Your Courage: A Space For Creatives with The Friendzone’s Assanté (@heyassante), Fran (@heyfranhey) and Dustin (@lookatdustin)
Post-show “Gathering the Pieces” live sessions will resume on Tuesday nights, hosted on http://imdyresources.com/. The sessions include the following:
June 16, 9:00 PM, ET: Reclaiming Your Body with Deun Ivory (@deunivory)
June 23, 9:00 PM, ET: Showing Up for Yourself: A Workshop with Alex Elle (@alex_elle)
June 30, 9:00 PM, ET: Triggers, Trauma, and Breaking Through with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford (@hellodrjoy)
July 7, 9:00 PM, ET: NewFest, New York’s leading LGBTQ film, and media organization will host a virtual post-premiere talkback focused on identity, oppression, and trauma through a queer lens.
