This article contains brief spoilers for television show “Industry” and includes discussion of childhood sexual abuse. 

HBO’s financial thriller “Industry,” created by former investment bankers Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, first premiered in 2020 as a show that was known by few, but beloved by all who watched. . 

Six years and three unexpected renewals later, season four premiered this past January and per Warner Bros Discovery, increased cross-platform viewership by 20% compared to the show’s third season premiere. 

Safe to say, “Industry” has finally caught the public’s attention. 

Set in modern-day London, we follow four first year graduates working at Pierpoint, a prestigious and cutthroat investment bank. In between the moments of tense financial trades on the floor, the writers slowly start to unravel the layers of each of the four main graduates.

One of the most fascinatingly complex storylines centers on Yasmin Kara-Hanani and who she is beyond her painfully obvious “nepo-baby” privilege. 

Yasmin, who’s heiress to a billionaire dollar publishing company and talented polyglot, spends the first two seasons of “Industry” desperately trying to prove her worth. Her struggle is especially apparent as she watches Harper Stern, our cutthroat American graduate, be taken seriously by her mentor.

By season three, on top of her frequent workplace mistreatment, a new crisis comes to light: her father. 

Charles Hanani, who fans speculate as being based on Robert Maxwell, has been accused of embezzlement and sexual abuse, specifically aginst young women. Alongside allusions throughout the show that her father may have abused her in some way, it’s clear that what viewers are seeing is the opposite of a normal father-daughter relationship. 

The thesis of Yasmin’s internal struggles is best demonstrated in her final argument with her father.

“Every relationship I have with a man is so fucked up because of you. Because you are an animal! The way you let your friends look at me. The way you look at me.” 

A horrifying accusation finally spoken aloud.

In an attempt to deflect,, Charles justifies his leering towards Yasmin, labeling her as “talentless” and shouting that her beauty is all she has (to which she rightfully reminds him that she speaks seven languages!).

Besides this interaction, the severity of Charles’ abuse has yet to be fully confirmed.  Instead, the writers leave a trail of visual and auditory clues for the viewers to unpack as viewers witness Yasmin’s struggle against her past. .

Her mother says that she wet her bed until she was nine. Her father says that she would cry if anyone tried to separate them during her youth. According to Bravehearts, an Australian child protection non profit organization, and many other childhood sexual abuse resources, these are both examples of childhood behaviors that can point towards abuse. 

One of the most horrifying and revealing moments in the entire show is when Charles climbs on top of Yasmin during a confrontation. He’s straddling her, his body weight keeping her from moving, and she spits in his face. He then grabs a nearby glass of wine and dumps it on her. 

Visually, the frame of the scene is frightening. For viewers who have suspected the sexual abuse, it’s a moment where you’re not sure what Charles is going to do next. A moment of fear that the worst may occur onscreen. 

The worst doesn’t occur on screen, and it never does. It’s a scene where the show writers, Down and Kay, fully demonstrate their talent in portraying these types of abusive dynamics, without also abusing the audience.   

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“The same way that you feed into what he (Charles) and every other man like him wants you to be. A fucking sex object.” - Harper to Yasmin

Throughout the show, everyone around Yasmin seems to have a preoccupation with her sexuality. Kenny, her original mentor, demeans her skills. In an attempt to move towards a fairer workplace, she transfers off of the trading floor to Private Wealth Management (PWM) — a choice that allows her to flex her language fluency and communication skills. However, by the beginning of season three, she was back on the trade floor, due to PVM director Celeste Pacquet, only wanting Yasmin for sex and Charles’ business. Her new mentor, Eric Tao then begins to make passes towards her. Even Robert, a fellow graduate, shows attraction to Yasmin. 

What makes Yasmin both so complex and easily criticized is how she seems to enjoy using her sexuality, or as Harper says, being a “sex object,” but only when she’s in full and complete control. She circles Robert, teasing him, sending him suggestive photos, never really letting him touch her, but always touching him.

Yasmin critics often outcry their sympathy for Rob, often for valid reasons. But, those same critics never seem to understand why Yas behaves the way she does. However, the more we learn about her background, particularly her father, the easier it is to understand. 

At her core, Yasmin is a deeply traumatized young woman who blatantly refuses to acknowledge it. 

“If he ever did that to you when you were young, if he hurt you like those girls, I want you to know you are seen and protected.” - Alondra, a victim and former employee of Charles

A sincere moment of support, offered by someone who has been victimized the same way she has. An opportunity for healing and acceptance. And for a moment, it is.

Yas denies it. Instantly. She shuts the door, not wanting anyone else to get a whiff of the conversation, and as she turns around, a shout already in her throat, Alondra hugs her.

For a moment, she does acknowledge the horrifying truth. She cries into Alondra’s shoulder for mere seconds, letting go of the facade. 

The tender moment is over before it begins. She realizes that what’s she doing, what she’s confirming, is what she’s spent years trying to suppress. She straightens, walks out the door, and orders the butler to, “Get rid of her.”

As so we are back where we began.

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It’s almost frustrating to witness Yasmin continue to make poor decisions — and in the beginning of the ongoing fourth season, begin to transform into her father. It’s easy to write her off as simply a villainous character. A bad person who does bad things.  And yet, every so often we’re told something that perfectly encapsulates exactly how and why Yasmin turned out the way she did.

“Your father told me that he was going to terminate you until he found out you were a girl.” - Yasmin’s aunt to Yasmin

National Sexual Assault Hotline (available 24 hours): 1-800-656-4673

Watch “Industry” on HBO Max