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Overshadowed By Controversy Cleanup

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Overshadowed by Controversy has several examples, particularly under the Fan Works, Webcomics, and Web Original folders, that don't fit the trope as described. The controversy is supposed to overshadow the work, so if it doesn't do that it shouldn't count as a valid example.

The media folders, such as Anime or Western Animation, could also use a look, as some entries deal with shows, while others deal with actors, fans, or creators. Additionally, some of the entries are not controversial anymore or are not known enough to overshadow the show completely, and others seem closer to Never Live It Down.

Some examples even point out that the controversy was debunked or died down eventually, which doesn't fit the trope, as well as examples saying things like "time will tell if [x] can recover." I originally tried the Real-Life cleanup section, and then a TRS thread, but I hope this is the right section to help us clean up this trope's examples. ^^

MOD NOTE: For something to be overshadowed by controversy; it has to have a significant, arguably overwhelming impact on that work/creator/thing that’s provable by pointing to actual evidence beyond social media likes or a news report. The controversy has to be bigger than the thing for it to overshadow the thing.

For a work, did it bomb directly due to the controversy? Was it pulled from shelves or streaming services? Nothing like this? Then it most likely doesn’t count.

For a creator, did they lose their job/get banned or lose all of their sponsorships or are unable to get any work directly due to the controversy? Did they at least retire directly because of the controversy? Nothing like this? Then it most likely doesn’t count.

Valid examples would be people like Gina Carano or Louie CK. As they were both fired and black listed for their controversies. Or Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are now more known for those controversies than their actual careers. Clearly being overshadowed by it.

If only chronically online people like us are going to be aware of something, it definitely doesn’t count. The controversy has to be so big that even people who are rarely online or know very little about something, would still have heard of the controversy.

Edited by kory on Oct 4th 2025 at 10:21:54 AM

fragglelover Since: Jun, 2012
#376: Jun 2nd 2020 at 7:22:33 AM

This is on the the Western Animation page

  • The qubo version of VeggieTales was originally controversial when it aired because, among other edits, all references to God were excised, including the ending message, to appeal to a secular audience. Parent groups were not happy about this and filed complaints to NBC about it. This resulted in Season 2, as well as a third season that would go unaired until 2016, leaving in references to God. Despite this, the show did extremely well in ratings, becoming qubo's second highest-rated show after Western Animation/321Penguins 3-2-1 Penguins! and LarryBoy Stories''.

PlasmaPower Piece of Cake. Since: Jan, 2015
Piece of Cake.
#377: Jun 2nd 2020 at 8:26:32 AM

So the example admits it isn’t really an example.

Thomas fans needed! Come join me in the the show's cleanup thread!
DDRMASTERM do you wanna have a bad time? from Someplace, Utah, USA Since: Apr, 2013 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
do you wanna have a bad time?
#378: Jun 2nd 2020 at 8:42:43 AM

[up][up] Given how synonymous VeggieTales is with religion entertainment, the idea of censoring the religion out is bizarre, to say the least. And they addressed the complaints, which does give a point in its favor. But if it was still successful in that first season, while that isn’t necessarily a disqualification, it does make it harder to justify as an example.

HighCrate Since: Mar, 2015
#379: Jun 2nd 2020 at 10:10:26 AM

[up][up][up] The trope is not "controversy exists," it's "Overshadowed by Controversy." This entry does not describe any work being overshadowed. Cut.

ImperialMajestyXO Since: Nov, 2015
#380: Jun 2nd 2020 at 11:05:09 AM

I could see the argument about the first season specifically, but not the show in general.

fragglelover Since: Jun, 2012
#381: Jun 3rd 2020 at 2:04:05 PM

This is on Live-Action TV:

  • The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon has become well-known for the time Fallon teased Donald Trump's hair during the 2016 Presidential campaign instead of discussing any of Trump's core issues. This became a turning point in Fallon's reputation; as he focuses less on discussing current sociopolitical issues than his fellow late-night talk show hosts, Democrats have accused Fallon of cowardice, using the Trump incident as evidence. Meanwhile, whenever Fallon does discuss politics, they're usually slanted against Trump, which meant that Republicans tend to stay away from the show as well.

DDRMASTERM do you wanna have a bad time? from Someplace, Utah, USA Since: Apr, 2013 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
do you wanna have a bad time?
#382: Jun 3rd 2020 at 10:07:22 PM

[up] Cut, otherwise we'd probably have to put an entry for most every current late-night show host. Especially since it's pretty low on the offensive insult meter compared to some others and almost certainly isn't still overshadowing his current show.

bwburke94 I am mad scientist! It's so cool! from 1.048596% (Y2: Electric Boogaloo) Relationship Status: She does the things you do, but she is an IBM
I am mad scientist! It's so cool!
#383: Jun 6th 2020 at 5:57:16 PM

On Count Dankula:

2025: the year it all ends?
Crossover-Enthusiast from an abaondoned mall (Lucky 7) Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#384: Jun 6th 2020 at 6:11:11 PM

ZCE.

Jawbreakers on sale for 99¢
bwburke94 I am mad scientist! It's so cool! from 1.048596% (Y2: Electric Boogaloo) Relationship Status: She does the things you do, but she is an IBM
I am mad scientist! It's so cool!
#385: Jun 6th 2020 at 6:53:49 PM

And the "context" is one of Dankula's own videos. Though it's certainly his most (in)famous, I fail to see how a video can be overshadowed by itself.

2025: the year it all ends?
Someoneman Since: Nov, 2011
#386: Jun 7th 2020 at 8:07:54 AM

[up] It's not the video that's overshadowed by itself; it's Dankula's whole video-making career that is overshadowed by the video, the legal trouble it got him into, and the debates about free speech the incident caused. The crosswick has more details:

  • Count Dankula is less known for his humorous skits and more well known for his "M8 Yer Dugs A Nazi" video, in which his teaching of his girlfriend's Pug to lift his paw to the phrase "Sieg Heil!" got him in trouble with UK police, which ended in him gaining a £800 fine. He still is appreciated for his comedy, but a lot of people still found him through that video alone.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#387: Jun 7th 2020 at 8:41:22 AM

This probably goes without saying, but if this is kept as an example, some of the crosswick's info should probably be moved over to the work page.

SkylaNoivern Since: Sep, 2016
#388: Jun 7th 2020 at 1:53:51 PM

From the Video Games section:

"Wii Music probably would have been a completely forgotten game shortly after its release if it wasn't for Nintendo pushing the game as the Wii's "killer app" at the E3 2008 press conference. The move alienated fans who were hoping to see a new Zelda or Mario game, and were instead given a Wii software dry spell for the rest of the year. It got to the point that Satoru Iwata issued a public apology days after the conference, explaining that the company was trying to experiment with their press conference presentations. To this day, the game is seen as what killed the Wii's chance of ever having a main game release."

With the info provided, the game is definitely valid for Never Live It Down. However, nothing I found on the internet suggests that the game essentially killed the Wii's popularity - Games like Wii Sports Resort, Super Mario Galaxy 2, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, etc. all sold well and were well received, despite being released after 2008. Should we cut this?

WarJay77 It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (8,356/50,000) from My Writing Cave (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (8,356/50,000)
#389: Jun 7th 2020 at 1:59:08 PM

It's not Never Live It Down either; that's about character actions.

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
DDRMASTERM do you wanna have a bad time? from Someplace, Utah, USA Since: Apr, 2013 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
do you wanna have a bad time?
#390: Jun 7th 2020 at 2:44:04 PM

[up][up] It’s easily the most infamous entry in the Wii Series and the most often remembered part of Nintendo 2008 E3 presentation. But that definitely overstates its negative impact. I lean towards keeping the example, but with a rewrite better narrowing its actual impact.

DDRMASTERM do you wanna have a bad time? from Someplace, Utah, USA Since: Apr, 2013 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
do you wanna have a bad time?
#391: Jun 7th 2020 at 6:52:39 PM

This is from Yooka-Laylee:

  • It's very difficult to mention anything about the game without Playtonic's decision to remove Jontron, the game's mixed reviews, or the mere existence of A Hat in Time eventually getting brought up.

The first part is probably credible, but could use more context such as from its listing on the video games page. The other two are suspect. Reviews were indeed mixed, but that was largely from being a bit too faithful to its inspiration. And what relevance A Hat in Time has to it is beyond me.

Siegfried1337 Calabash. from The Eastern Luminant Since: Sep, 2018 Relationship Status: Will you go out with me to the End?
Calabash.
#392: Jun 8th 2020 at 7:15:15 AM

[up] Basically, A Hat in Time did not opt to remove JonTron's cameo in the game, resulting in skirmishes from fans from both Yooka-Laylee and A Hat In Time

Eh, good enough.
Someoneman Since: Nov, 2011
#393: Jun 8th 2020 at 8:00:47 AM

I'm pretty sure the Yooka-Laylee example was added right after the controversy started (the No Recent Examples, Please! rule wasn't officially in place then). I'm not sure if it's still overshadowed.

HighCrate Since: Mar, 2015
#394: Jun 8th 2020 at 8:17:24 AM

It wasn't overshadowed when the game was new. Typical "controversy exists" style misuse.

Serac she/her (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: Oh my word! I'm gay!
she/her
#395: Jun 8th 2020 at 8:34:55 AM

And I'm pretty sure that when most people think of the game today, its mediocre reception and Surprisingly Improved Sequel are more likely to come to mind than "there used to be a YouTuber voice cameo that was barely recognizable due to the game's Voice Grunting, but the cameo was removed due to the person's alt-right political views".

Someoneman Since: Nov, 2011
#396: Jun 8th 2020 at 12:41:23 PM

Not sure how valid this is. The bolded parts sound like plain Complaining About Shows You Don't Like. The part about it replacing films is false, according to Mis-blamed on the movie's YMMV page. The rest may or may not be overshadowing.

WarJay77 It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (8,356/50,000) from My Writing Cave (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (8,356/50,000)
#397: Jun 8th 2020 at 12:42:30 PM

That's not a controversy, that's just bashing the film itself for being trash, unless we want to say that a work can be "overshadowed" by the fact everyone hates it, which isn't a controversy.

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
jandn2014 SMILE! from somewhere in Connecticut Since: Aug, 2017 Relationship Status: Hiding
SMILE!
#398: Jun 8th 2020 at 12:43:22 PM

[up][up] If the entire film is controversial, then I don't think it can really be "overshadowed" by controversy. The entire entry also comes off as just a list of transgressions.

Really, the entirely of YMMV.The Emoji Movie is in need of a cleanup.

Edited by jandn2014 on Jun 8th 2020 at 3:43:36 PM

DDRMASTERM do you wanna have a bad time? from Someplace, Utah, USA Since: Apr, 2013 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
do you wanna have a bad time?
#399: Jun 8th 2020 at 12:44:47 PM

Cut, it was already agreed upon that the Emoji Movie wasn’t an example several pages ago on this thread.

fragglelover Since: Jun, 2012
#400: Jun 9th 2020 at 8:07:10 AM

This is on the Real Life page:

  • At least some of Shirley Temple's films veer into this largely due to Values Dissonance over her interactions with grown men in the films (for starters, it's more or less impossible to discuss Bright Eyes without the now-infamous "Good Ship Lollipop" scene), and the various abuses she witnessed on- and off-set like in Baby Burlesks where misbehaving child actors were locked up in a cupboard with a big block of ice and left to freeze, and an incident where an errant MGM producer exposed his willy in front of the then twelve-year old Temple, the latter unaware of the obscene act being done in front of her. In fairness, she did fare better than the likes of Lindsay Lohan and other former child actors after retiring from acting, but the creepiness factor with her films did turn off some modern audiences who were uncomfortable about the things the actress went through during her childhood.


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