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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

MsOranjeDiscoDancer 2much2furious from the Saja Boys' last performance! Since: Aug, 2022 Relationship Status: Will you go out with me to the End?
2much2furious
#4126: Nov 2nd 2023 at 9:57:27 AM

now that even i heard of; not the details, just that someone was suing roblox and it causing a stir

i may be dead inside but at least i have Mystery :,)
TheLivingDrawing Lucas the Dreamer from The Town of Clayton Since: Apr, 2019 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
Lucas the Dreamer
#4127: Nov 2nd 2023 at 11:08:27 AM

[up] Roblox was suing Ruben Sim because Ruben made videos on Roblox allowing the exploitation of children on their platform.

Once Upon A Time.
MsOranjeDiscoDancer 2much2furious from the Saja Boys' last performance! Since: Aug, 2022 Relationship Status: Will you go out with me to the End?
2much2furious
#4128: Nov 2nd 2023 at 12:01:38 PM

oh huh, i knew of the Game Maker's Tool Kit expose but not that

i may be dead inside but at least i have Mystery :,)
mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#4129: Nov 5th 2023 at 6:51:45 AM

I do remember Beef coming up but at the time the show was too new to call. I wasn't involved in the discourse but apparently it did come up a lot.

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
Ferot_Dreadnaught Since: Mar, 2015
#4130: Nov 6th 2023 at 3:05:12 PM

YMMV.Velma

This is the first I've heard of this. Given the overwhelming vitriol to this series content I do not believe this controversy has meaningfully overshadowed it. Cut?

miraculous Goku Black (Apprentice)
Goku Black
#4131: Nov 6th 2023 at 3:07:52 PM

Uh I did hear about this. But most people just think the series sucks and alor of reviews don't mention it. So it isn't "overshadowed"

Edited by miraculous on Nov 6th 2023 at 3:08:06 AM

"That's right mortal. By channeling my divine rage into power, I have forged a new instrument in which to destroy you."
mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#4132: Nov 6th 2023 at 3:48:08 PM

I think those are just one thing in a bunch of criticisms about the show's existence. Not the main thing and not something that makes the show impossible to mention.

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
AudioSpeaks2 Since: Apr, 2022
#4133: Nov 6th 2023 at 3:57:52 PM

Yeah remove the Velma OBC entry, much of the criticism and discourse around Velma is aimed at how poor the show's writing and execution is.

Amongst most detractors, including me, Mindy Kaling is only one of the reasons as to why this show is considered god-awful, not the only reason.

Edited by AudioSpeaks2 on Nov 6th 2023 at 7:58:14 PM

SharkToast Since: Mar, 2013
#4134: Nov 6th 2023 at 4:12:16 PM

It's kind of the opposite of how OBC works. It wasn't like the clip surfaced and then people turned on Velma. Mindy Kaling was getting a lot of negative attention from the show's detractors, resulting in people discovering the clip. If the clip does overshadow anything, it might be The Mindy Project. IIRC that was the show where the incident occurred and I haven't seen any discussions of the show itself since it went off the air outside of discussing the incident.

Edited by SharkToast on Nov 6th 2023 at 4:12:56 AM

SharkToast Since: Mar, 2013
#4135: Nov 6th 2023 at 6:56:16 PM

Double Post. I found this on Twelve Forever:

  • Overshadowed by Controversy: For some, the series is more remembered for the many streaks of bad luck it suffered (the discovery that creator Julia Vickerman had written stories and social media posts with pedophilic overtones prior to the series' creation, the animation studio closing down, Invisible Advertising, etc.) than for its actual quality.

First off, the entry starts with "For some", which seems like misuse. If a work is OBC, it should apply to the overwhelming majority of the fandom, not just some. Second, it doesn't really go into much details about the controversy. Third, the way it lists the controversies implies that they have equal weight. I imagine that the show runner making pedophilic social media posts is more well-known/discussed than the Invisible Advertising.

WarJay77 It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (10,238/50,000) from My Writing Cave (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (10,238/50,000)
#4136: Nov 6th 2023 at 6:58:09 PM

The show runner's issues are the only thing I even knew about with regards to the show

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#4137: Nov 6th 2023 at 7:56:25 PM

Yeah, I definitely think it should be kept to the pedophilia controversy. Almost every Netflix cartoon got Invisible Advertising after a certain point.

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
SharkToast Since: Mar, 2013
#4138: Nov 6th 2023 at 8:08:38 PM

I'm aware of the pedophilia controversy, but I don't think I know enough about it to write a detailed summary of it. Is there anyone whose more familiar with it who would be willing to write a better entry?

mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#4139: Nov 6th 2023 at 9:14:47 PM

Just crosswick from the Western Animation subpage, maybe without the Troubled Production part.

  • Twelve Forever will most likely be chiefly remembered for its massively Troubled Production (its producer shut down before its premiere), as well as creator Julia Vickerman being fired for mistreating her coworkers and making pedophilic comments on her social media, most infamously a story about her stalking a teenage boy at an amusement park.

Edited by mightymewtron on Nov 6th 2023 at 12:15:04 PM

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
MsOranjeDiscoDancer 2much2furious from the Saja Boys' last performance! Since: Aug, 2022 Relationship Status: Will you go out with me to the End?
2much2furious
#4140: Nov 15th 2023 at 6:11:27 PM

~mightymewtron - re: Beef - since it is past the six-month mark ill go ahead and add in the controversy when i can, unless anyone has any objections to this

i may be dead inside but at least i have Mystery :,)
Amonimus the "Retromancer" from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
the "Retromancer"
#4141: Nov 16th 2023 at 1:56:15 PM

For Minecraft tuber Dream, he seems to get into drama every few months, so I don't think grooming accusations (the latest one appears to be believed to be false) is what he's more known for.

TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
WarJay77 It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (10,238/50,000) from My Writing Cave (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (10,238/50,000)
#4142: Nov 16th 2023 at 1:56:57 PM

Yeah, Dream has become somewhat synonymous with controversy at this point.

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
plakythebirb The Unwilling Cycle from The Deep South (Handed A Sword) Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
The Unwilling Cycle
#4143: Nov 19th 2023 at 5:40:32 PM

While on my usual Wiki Walk, I found these suspect examples on Rainbow High. Indentation Issues aside, I'm not sure if either of the examples here count.

  • Overshadowed by Controversy: What marred the hype for Rainbow High's first wave's release was its noticeable lack of diverse skin tones, Skyler having a darker complexion in the animation not helping the case. When wave 2 was leaked and Krystal's doll was revealed to have the same skin tone as Skyler, many fans demanded that her doll be made with a darker skin tone (which the line still lacked at this point). MGA responded and pulled the original Krystal in favor of giving her such, and she was released later than the other wave 2 characters.
    • The promotional images' tendency to heavily downplay the diversity aren't unnoticed by even the strongest fans. Most of the darker-skinned characters' illustrated profiles (more noticeable in Skyler's and Krystal's) make them appear lighter. Sunny's Cheer doll art is noticeably lighter than her original art as well. Karma's doll even became the subject of confusion as the character has a medium skin tone, but her stock photo is suspiciously lightened to make her appear white.
    • Fans would have rejoiced with Kia's appearance in "The Vi-Life", if it weren't for her downplayed baby hairs and unexplained change from brown eyes to purple.note  This was later fixed in season 2.
    • Lila Yamamoto became the subject of criticism due to her outfits being a mix of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean fashion, as pointed out by Asian Rainbow High fans. Even with MGA’s official backstory for her being half Chinese and half Japanese, many perceived this as a lazy way to justify the lack of thought into her clothing.

Welcome To Ideals' World
SpongeBat1 We stan Clippy in this house from Quittersville, Failuretown, and Loserburg (Y2: Electric Boogaloo) Relationship Status: It's a god-awful small affair
We stan Clippy in this house
#4144: Nov 19th 2023 at 6:20:46 PM

This is the first I've heard of any kind of reaction or even community for Rainbow High, so I couldn't possibly say whether it counts.

Even then the general public seems to know it as "generic fashion doll #382" so this may just be a Broken Base within the fandom.

Came for the tropes, stayed for the cleanup.
ooh Since: Jul, 2012
#4145: Nov 19th 2023 at 8:13:19 PM

Deleted comment.

Edited by ooh on Nov 19th 2023 at 8:13:58 AM

MagiMecha Since: Dec, 2010
#4146: Nov 20th 2023 at 9:43:57 PM

So, it’s not up yet, but would the shipping discourse concerning Kibou no Chikara ~Otona Pretty Cure '23~ count? Because after episode 4, you couldn’t go into any discussion without Western fans frothing at the mouth over shipping.

Siegfried1337 Calabash. from The Eastern Luminant Since: Sep, 2018 Relationship Status: Will you go out with me to the End?
worldwidewoomy (Plucky Ensign) Relationship Status: I miss my wife, Tails
#4149: Nov 21st 2023 at 1:52:07 PM

i have yet to see any of this discourse myself...

WarJay77 It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (10,238/50,000) from My Writing Cave (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (10,238/50,000)
#4150: Nov 21st 2023 at 1:52:54 PM

In general I don't think "shipping discourse" is a big enough controversy.

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall

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