Netflix axed a Turkish drama series after the government denied it a filming licence over a gay character, a spokesman for the streaming service confirmed on Tuesday. The move comes amid concerns over a rise in anti-LGBT+ rhetoric from Turkey’s political and religious leaders. Filming of the show, which was called “If Only” and told the story of a unhappily married woman travelling back in time, was due to start shortly when Netflix decided last week to halt it. The streaming company has seen demand for its services grow during the coronavirus pandemic. It added 10m subscribers in the second quarter of this year, taking it to almost 193m. “Netflix remains deeply committed to our Turkish members and the creative community in Turkey,” the spokesman said in an email in which he also confirmed the decision to stop filming.