From Star Wars, fandom has become a serious point of discussion in the entertainment industry for extremely negative reasons. There are 'fans' who bully the cast and crew of what is supposed to be their favorite shows, others who gatekeep the media from 'fake fans,' and still others who make it difficult for fandom to be the loving and creative place it can be at its best.
Fandoms can be extremely rewarding spaces, in large part because marginalized communities can see themselves represented in ways that they don't see in mainstream media. However, a very small number of "toxic fans" have become the center of media attention recently, making it hard to see fandom as a positive space. Fans took to Reddit to discuss which fandoms have the worst of this behavior to help others avoid unnecessary drama.
My Hero Academia
According to My Hero Academia. As they say, "The series is amazing and well animated, same with the manga of how well drawn it is and I know there are really nice people in the fandom but because of its large toxic side it’s sad to see people past by the anime because of it."
Many fans, especially with anime, believe there is only one way to enjoy the stories. Anime or manga, subtitles or dubs, even which characters fans can have all turned into major arguments within the MHA community. As Flower_Power_Hour says, these people are often in the minority, but it still makes it difficult especially for new fans to find a place to discuss a series they love.
The Boys
The Boys was written as a satire on the superhero genre, specifically pushing against its hyper-militaristic side. However, Redditors like navyzak find that many fans of the show don't pick up on the show's actual messages, saying, "I just don’t understand how toxic fans of ‘The Boys’ don’t realize that the show is specifically make fun of them."
Audiences shouldn't latch onto characters like Homelander and Soldier Boy as their heroes, because they are explicitly criticized by the show itself. However, much like some fans fell for John Walker in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, many seem ready to defend their favorites to the end, no matter what other fans or even the showrunners might have to say.
Marvel
Marvel has taken over the media landscape, but many fans don't want heroism to be available to everyone. As Fossils222 explains, "I am amazed at the toxic fans who accuse Marvel of being woke and forcing diversity and inclusive, yet ironically Jack Kirby and Stan Lee spent their lives making a universe where anyone regardless of their skin color or background can be a hero."
For many years, the Marvel does better, however, many supposed fans get upset that other demographics get to see themselves represented on screen, making it a difficult fandom for many people to enjoy.
Rick and Morty
Many people have probably heard of the chaos within the Rick and Morty fandom, but it's hard to hear from people who are fans themselves. A deleted comment discussed the issue, saying, "Rick and Morty fans are notoriously bad. To the point that I’m embarrassed to say that I watch it, because the fandom is so annoying."
Fandoms are meant to be safe places for people to share their love of a show, but some take it too far, forcing their interpretations and preferences on anyone else who enjoys it. This phenomenon has even been documented in GQ, where the entitlement of a small sector of the fandom is discussed as a growing problem scaring away other fans.
Teen Mom
While the word fandom is usually associated with scripted media, some Redditors like Lydia--charming suggested reality TV franchises like Teen Mom, saying, "after a while off that sub then going back, they’re so mean to the girls and each other. I want to start leaving some more positive/neutral comments. But it’s also hard when the subjects of the show can be so toxic…."
The franchise is intended to feed off of drama, and the moms generally have frequent conflicts with their parents, partners, and each other regarding how they live their lives and raise their children. But while characters can be easily criticized in fiction, these women are real human beings who don't deserve to be showered in hate for taking part in a television show.
Glee
Ryan Murphy's Glee was a huge cultural force in its early years, but it fell victim to the extreme sides of fandom that were prominent in the 2010s, specifically with regard to relationships. As lilxannydevito explains, "fans were obsessed with shipping [Darren Chris and Chris Colfer] together to the point where they couldn’t interact publicly anymore. darren’s wife also got a lot of s**t from fans, not sure about chris’s husband but he probably got some too."
Fans have every right to appreciate a couple in fiction, and the relationship between Kurt and Blaine on Glee was incredibly important to those in the LGBT+ community. However, there is a difference between characters and actors, and any fandom that crosses that line needs to take a step back.
Stranger Things
Fan Stranger Things. As they say, "Something happened to Stranger Things fans in the 3 years between season 3 and season 4 and I have no idea what it is."
As kimmicla said, there was a three-year period between seasons 3 and 4 of the show thanks to COVID-19, and that time meant that fans needed to rewatch the first few seasons or make new content themselves. While this stage of fandom can prompt a creative boom, it also tends to start fragmentation, as fans rally behind characters or relationships more than the show itself.
Halloween
Horror franchises have a tendency to Halloween is the most infamous version of this. Redditor DontZzz34 says, "This is a very divided fanbase bc there is 4 different timelines and with that you will get a lot of toxicity. People legit get offended over an opinion and throw insults at each other over it."
It would be ideal for the fandom to be able to celebrate each movie for what it is, but many fans feel the need to force their opinions on others, getting upset at anybody who disagrees. With Halloween Ends so close on the horizon, the fandom is no doubt bracing itself for the wars between those who love it and those who wish it had never been written.
Supernatural
Supernatural ran for 15 years, and it accrued a lot of fans in that time, but those fans tended to be very divided on what the show should be. A Supernatural fandom has run THREE of the main guest stars off social media. It's sad. ... These keyboard warriors ruin for the legit fans who have followed the show all along."
It is absolutely fine to like some seasons over others—the show has certainly provided a lot of variety. It's fine to want certain characters to be in relationships. It's even fine to criticize the show for its failings. But attacking the cast, crew, and other fans will always be toxic behavior.
Star Wars
When it comes to fandom criticism, nearly every Reddit post agreed that the Star Wars community was the worst. SuppleSuplicant says, "I'm all for a critical side to my fandoms, but I would love to be able to hang out in an online Star Wars space not dominated by s***ing on the new movies. I enjoyed them and struggle to find anyone to geek out with, despite it being one of the most popular franchises of all time."
The franchise has become so expansive, nobody seems to be able to enjoy it as a whole. While few fans would question the success of the originals, the prequels and sequels get a lot of hate, and many female and POC actors have faced harassment from 'fans' who hate their involvement.
