History Main / UnderminedByReality

* Two of the overarching messages in Franchise/{{Pokemon}} is that you should befriend the Pokemon you like and become strong together rather than just using Pokemon as tools or going exclusively for powerful Pokemon just because they are and not catching Pokemon [[GottaCatchEmAll just for the sake of having them without using them.]] The first message however ended up severely underminded by the removal of the [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters National]] [[OldSaveBonus Pokedex]] in recent titles like ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield'' meaning that [[PutOnABus if your favorite Pokemon just so happens to not be part of a region's Pokedex, you won't be able to bring it with you into your next adventure as you could before]]. The second was also harmed by the restrictive implementation of the Pokemon Home storage system to coincide with the Nintendo Switch era console games. While you can transfer your Pokemon into Home from older generations via-the Pokemon Bank, there's no return trip available once they're in meaning that Pokemon ported into Home without any compatible games are simply stuck there [[CommutingOnABus until such a time that a game comes out that decides to include them AND make transferring into that game possible]]. This coming [[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon after a game]] where part of the conflict with the main villian was because [[AesopAmnesia they would capture Pokemon they liked and keep them in stasis as trophies rather than letting them live as they were intended.]]

* ''Film/SuperSizeMe'' is a documentary style film about how bad the fast food industry is for your health, with the goal of the film being to watch a relatively healthy man (Morgan Spurlock) eating UsefulNotes/McDonalds for thirty days straight and the effects it has on him physically and mentally. By the end, he's gained a massive amount of weight, developed health problems, and suffered issues like addiction because of it. While the film got the reaction from audiences it was aiming for, Spurlock would later explain that he was a vegan prior to the films production, and has been dealing with alcoholism. Combined with him refusing to give a list of all the food eaten, and Morgan being shown eating more food then is recommended[[note]]including points where he had to ''force himself'' to keep eating because he threw up[[/note]], the film became heavily criticized for undermining the entire premise the film was was aiming to make, since Spurlock not only went into the experiment from an extreme diet choice the average person doesn't do, but he didn't eat what would be remotely called a "normal" amount of food for one mean. Various health experts would go on to criticize this, and a sepeate film called ''Film/FatHead'' was made that more or less pointed out the flawed premise, details, and manipulative nature of the film.

* In ''VideoGame/SpiderManMilesMorales'', Rio Morales gives a speech on Jameson's podcast about the importance of opposing corporate interests, and that true prosperity comes from local, small businesses, not corporations. It's a nice sentiment... in a game produced by Creator/InsomniacGames, a subsidiary of Creator/SonyInteractiveEntertainment, a large corporation which is itself a division of the larger corporation Creator/{{Sony}}, and using a licensed property from Creator/MarvelComics, a division of Creator/{{Disney}}, one of the biggest media corporations there is.

* Two of the overarching messages in Franchise/{{Pokemon}} is that you should befriend the Pokemon you like and become strong together rather than just using Pokemon as tools or going exclusively for powerful Pokemon just because they are and not catching Pokemon [[GottaCatchEmAll just for the sake of having them without using them.]] The first message however ended up severely underminded by the removal of the [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters National]] [[OldSaveBonus Pokedex]] in recent titles like ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield'' meaning that [[PutOnABus if your favorite Pokemon just so happens to not be part of a region's Pokedex, you won't be able to bring it with you into your next adventure as you could before]]. The second was also harmed by the restrictive implementation of the Pokemon Home storage system to coincide with the Nintendo Switch era console games. While you can transfer your Pokemon into Home from older generations via-the Pokemon Bank, there's no return trip available once they're in meaning that Pokemon ported into Home without any compatible games are simply stuck there [[CommutingOnABus until such a time that a game comes out that decides to include them AND make transferring into that game possible]]. This coming [[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon after a game]] where part of the conflict with the main villian was because [[AesopAmnesia they would capture Pokemon they liked and keep them in stasis as trophies rather than letting them live as they were intended.]]

* ''Series/TheBoldType'' was a series that preached the value of authenticity and risk-taking, ostensibly being the story about how protagonist Jane rises through the ranks at ''Scarlet'' magazine through hard work, honesty, and a willingness to speak her mind. Behind the scenes was a different story; when Kat Edison, the openly-queer and outspoken TokenBlackCharacter, became the show's most popular character, actress Aisha Dee tried to leverage her popularity to get more input into her character's development, and instead the writers punished her with increasingly contrived storylines, culminating in a much-hated story arc where a conservative lesbian gets Kat fired from her job, and somehow Kat ends up in a relationship with the woman.

** One of Blizzard's core principles is "Every Voice Matters". While Blizzard has tried to adhere to this ideal with a diverse cast in many of its games, a [[https://deadline.com/2021/07/activision-blizzard-sued-california-agency-frat-boy-workplace-culture-1234798024/ lawsuit]] alleges that studio failed to create an inclusive environment and instead silences and browbeats its employees into submission. Female employees, in particular, have experienced the worst of Blizzard's work culture with women being sexually harassed by drunken employees, denied promotions, and fired for speaking out.

* In ''VideoGame/SpiderManMilesMorales'', Rio Morales gives a speech on Jameson's podcast about the importance of opposing corporate interests, and that true prosperity comes from local, small businesses, not corporations. It's a nice sentiment... in a game produced by Creator/InsomniacGames, a subsidiary of Creator/SonyInteractiveEntertainment, a large corporation which is itself a division of the larger corporation Creator/{{Sony}}, and using a licensed property from Creator/MarvelComics, a division of Creator/{{Disney}}, one of the biggest media corporations there is.
* Two of the overarching messages in Franchise/{{Pokemon}} is that you should befriend the Pokemon you like and become strong together rather than just using Pokemon as tools or going exclusively for powerful Pokemon just because they are and not catching Pokemon [[GottaCatchEmAll just for the sake of having them without using them.]] The first message however ended up severely underminded by the removal of the [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters National]] [[OldSaveBonus Pokedex]] in recent titles like ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield'' meaning that [[PutOnABus if your favorite Pokemon just so happens to not be part of a region's Pokedex, you won't be able to bring it with you into your next adventure as you could before]]. The second was also harmed by the restrictive implementation of the Pokemon Home storage system to coincide with the Nintendo Switch era console games. While you can transfer your Pokemon into Home from older generations via-the Pokemon Bank, there's no return trip available once they're in meaning that Pokemon ported into Home without any compatible games are simply stuck there [[CommutingOnABus until such a time that a game comes out that decides to include them AND make transferring into that game possible]]. This coming [[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon after a game]] where part of the conflict with the main villian was because [[AesopAmnesia they would capture Pokemon they liked and keep them in stasis as trophies rather than letting them live as they were intended.]]

* ''Film/SuperSizeMe'' is a documentary style film about how bad the fast food industry it for your health, with the goal of the film being to watch a relatively healthy man (Morgan Spurlock) eating UsefulNotes/McDonalds for thirty days straight and the effects it has on him physically and mentally. By the end, he's gained a massive amount of weight, developed health problems, and suffered issues like addiction because of it. While the film ultimately got the reaction from audiences it was aiming for, Spurlock would later go on to explain that prior to the film, he was actually a vegan (meaning his reaction was exacerbated by adjusting to the new diet) and dealing with alcoholism. This, alongside Spurlock refusing to publicly give the food log taken during the experiment, and the fact that the film shows Spurlock eating more food than is recommended (including points where he had to ''force himself'' to keep eating because he threw up), counter the film's whole idea that the average person eating fast food all the time would have those issues: Spurlock was not in the best health going in, nor did he eat what could be called a "normal" amount of food for one meal.

* David Rudman (co-creator of ''WesternAnimation/NatureCat'', ''Series/JacksBigMusicShow'', ''Series/DonkeyHodie'' and the current puppeteer of [[Series/SesameStreet Cookie Monster]]) has sold [=NFTs=] on Opensea. As [=NFTs=] burn fossil fuels and create a lot of carbon dioxide, this contradicts the series-wide GreenAesop of ''Nature Cat'' and makes it ironic. At least he doesn't sell [=NFTs=] of the characters from that show.

* David Rudman (co-creator of ''WesternAnimation/NatureCat'', ''Series/JacksBigMusicShow'', ''WesternAnimation/DonkeyHodie'' and the current puppeteer of [[Series/SesameStreet Cookie Monster]]) has sold [=NFTs=] on Opensea. As [=NFTs=] burn fossil fuels and create a lot of carbon dioxide, this contradicts the series-wide GreenAesop of ''Nature Cat''. At least he doesn't sell [=NFTs=] of the characters from that show.

* Creator/GeneRoddenberry's vision of a future moneyless utopia in the later incarnations of ''Franchise/StarTrek'' (which was [[NewerThanTheyThink never part of the original series]])[[note]]The episodes with Harry Mudd and Cyrano Jones make it very clear that money ''does'' exist. The, "We don't use money in the future," idea first appears decades later in a throwaway line in ''Film/StarTrekIVTheVoyageHome,'' and frankly seems to just come out of the blue. It would be ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' that made it a central aspect of the setting.[[/note]] falls rather flat when you learn that the man himself was a quite ruthless businessman, pulling shady moves like writing completely irrelevant lyrics to the show's theme song that were never intended to be used just so he could steal part of the composer's paycheck and making unauthorized use of the actors' likenesses on merchandise (something Leonard Nimoy often had to fight him on). The franchise reputation as a [[CashCowFranchise cash cow]] over the decades also strikes against its anticapitalist sensibilities.

* ''WesternAnimations/RainbowRangers'' is a show about protecting the environment. However, Creator/GeniusBrandsInternational, who made the series, has invested in [=NFTs=], which are very harmful for the environment because of the greenhouse gases they emit. This makes the show's {{Green Aesop}}s seem less meaningful.

* Creator/NetherrealmStudios made quite a big deal about taking the ''Franchise/MortalKombat'' series in a more progressive direction with ''VideoGame/MortalKombatX'' and ''VideoGame/MortalKombat11''. This included TamerAndChaster redesigns for the female characters for which they received both [[BrokenBase praise and criticism]]. However, [=NetherRealm's=] efforts at being progressive received scrutiny in light of [[https://variety.com/2019/gaming/features/netherrealm-studio-warner-bros-games-toxic-1203204728/ reports concerning terrible working conditions for their employees such as low pay despite extreme overtime, as well as allegations of sexism and transphobia]]. Their decision to cast Ronda Rousey as the voice of Sonya Blade in ''11'' also received criticism due to [[https://kotaku.com/ronda-rousey-being-in-mortal-kombat-11-is-bullshit-1834446709 Rousey's comments about transgender MMA fighter Fallon Fox and her re-tweeting conspiracy videos about the Sandy Hook school shooting]]. To say nothing of the fact that Kung Jin from ''VideoGame/MortalKombatX'', the franchise's first gay character, is conspicuously missing from ''11''[='=]s roster or the game's retconning of Sindel from a loving mother and benevolent queen into a [[TheVamp vampish]] GoldDigger who constantly speaks in sexual innuendos and now has a move in which she [[AssKicksYou breaks the opponent's face with her ass]].

* Many Website/ChannelAwesome videos were struck by this after [[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WZFkR__B3Mk9EYQglvislMUx9HWvWhOaBP820UBa4dA/preview# #ChangeTheChannel]], showing the upper management was very inadequate and at times incompetent. Of particular note is the crossover film ''Webvideo/ToBoldlyFlee'', documented as a [[TroubledProduction hellish production]] where Creator/DougWalker and his brother mistreated everyone (not to mention the film being an end to Webvideo/TheNostalgiaCritic when he came back a few months later [[StatusQuoIsGod with all that "wanting to be good" stuff forgotten]]), and all the tributes to [[Webvideo/YouCanPlayThis JewWario]], as noted by the page quote - at first it was just an homage to a friend who tragically killed himself, but then said friend turned out to have been a sexual predator and [[CreatorBacklash everyone regretted it]].

* ''VideoGame/BendyAndTheInkMachine'' is not shy to condemn poor working conditions and abuse of employees, with [[BadBoss Joey Drew]]'s poor business sense and treatment of his workers causing several of them to become {{Humanoid Abomination}}s and the whole plot of the game happening as a result of his incompetence. [[https://www.videogamer.com/news/bendy-and-the-ink-machine-developer-allegedly-fires-almost-50-employees/ Then came accusations from ex-Kindly Beast employees suddenly let go]] that the heads [[HeadInTheSandManagement tended to ignore the concerns of more experienced workers, were not upfront about the unclear future of the company, and had long periods of time where no work was done due to the board being difficult to contact]] - in short indulging in the same toxic workplace culture than ''Bendy'' criticizes.
* Creator/BlizzardEntertainment

* The 2008 documentary ''Bigger, Stronger, Faster'' saw its director Chris Bell challenge the "conventional wisdom" about the health risks of anabolic steroids, questioning doctors and lawmakers about the real health risks and grilling a father whose son committed suicide over whether steroids really were to blame. The film heavily featured Bell and his two brothers Mike and Mark, both of whom were active steroid users. Within less than a year, Mike Bell (a former WWE jobber) had committed suicide, and both were shown to be at a significantly elevated risk for heart disease due to their steroid use.

* Creator/GeneRoddenberry's vision of a future moneyless utopia in the later incarnations of ''Franchise/StarTrek'' (which was [[NewerThanTheyThink never part of the original series]])[[note]]The episodes with Harry Mudd and Cyrano Jones make it very clear that money ''does'' exist. The, "We don't use money in the future," idea first appears decades later in a throwaway line in ''Film/StarTrekIVTheVoyageHome,'' and frankly seems to just come out of the blue. It would be ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' that made it a central aspect of the setting.[[/note]] falls rather flat when you learn that the man himself was a quite ruthless businessman, pulling shady moves like writing completely irrelevant lyrics to the show's theme song that were never intended to be used just so he could steal part of the composer's paycheck and making unauthorized use of the actors' likenesses on merchandise (something Leonard Nimoy often had to fight him on).
** Some reviewers, such as Website/SFDebris, have noted that the message is further undermined by the fact that Star Trek is such a huge CashCowFranchise. It's hard to take the anti-capitalist themes of episodes like [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS1E25TheNeutralZone "The Neutral Zone"]] seriously when the show is constantly churning out a ton of (often very expensive) merchandise.

See also: FunnyAneurysmMoment (where the irony of a situation is particularly cruel but affects the actor rather than the production), HolierThanThou (for the fictional equivalent), and ArtistDisillusionment[=/=]FanDisillusionment (for the likely results of this trope). For the advertising variant, see WeCare. If the marketing causes the undermining of a work, this can overlap with MisaimedMarketing. See RoleEndingMisdemeanor. One reason for PosthumousPopularityPotential.