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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

themayorofsimpleton Short-Term Projects Herald | he/him from the Island of Koridai (Captain) Relationship Status: I won't say I'm in love
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#926: Dec 1st 2020 at 11:54:40 AM

This got reposted with more context to Real Life:

  • * Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani went from one of the most beloved mayors and a renowned attorney to becoming the Amoral Attorney for Donald Trump, using corruption and profiteering.

First off, Amoral Attorney is NRLEP. Second, I'm pretty sure this violates ROCEJ. Permission to cut?

Works That Require Cleanup of Complaining | Troper Wall
mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#927: Dec 1st 2020 at 12:05:46 PM

It violates ROCEJ and it's too recent to call.

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
themayorofsimpleton Short-Term Projects Herald | he/him from the Island of Koridai (Captain) Relationship Status: I won't say I'm in love
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#928: Dec 1st 2020 at 12:19:50 PM
Alphatater Since: May, 2020
#929: Dec 2nd 2020 at 1:08:09 PM

From OvershadowedByControversy.Video Games:

  • Aliens: Colonial Marines is more known for its Development Hell, poor quality, and misleading marketing that falsely promised a high-end, triple-A game made by fans for fans of the Alien franchise.
    • When the game was released in 2013, it was panned by gamers and critics for its bugs, downgraded graphics, and terrible AI that resulted in the final game being completely different from the polished trailers and gameplay demos. The game's image would then be further tarnished when it was revealed that developer Gearbox Software used Sega's money and subcontracted the development of the game to Timegate Studios so that Gearbox could work on the development of Borderlands 2 and Battleborn.
    • Likewise, publisher Sega was also revealed to have forced the developers to have human enemies in hopes of winning over Call of Duty fans, instead of the traditionally space alien threats of the franchise, which contributed to its negative reception.
    • The contract disputes between Gearbox and Sega, a misleading marketing lawsuit between the two companies that Sega settled out of court, and the outrage caused by the game's release forever stained the legacy of Gearbox Software, who before the release of the game were seen as the "cool guys" of the gaming industry thanks to Borderlands 2 and have been embroiled in no shortage of controversies afterwards.
    • The cherry on top of this controversy was the fact that five years after its release, modders discovered the source of the Xenomorph's broken AI to be caused by a single typo in the "tether" command (it was misspelled as "teather"), which led to discussions of Gearbox's quality assurance in their games and prompted several software companies to ask developers to spell "tether" in job interviews after the news came out.

This is a poorly-indented Wall of Text List of Transgressions that alternates between "bad game bad" and tempests in a teapot that do not actually overshadow the fact that the game is bad on its own merits. Motion to cut.

GoodGamer14 Since: Aug, 2015
#930: Dec 2nd 2020 at 2:27:22 PM

The Aliens: Colonial Marines entry is justified, it isn't just "bad game not controversial" as some people claim.

It's a bloated entry all-right, so just remove the teather and the Sega's Executive Meddling sub-entry, leaving the mismanagement and the lawsuits intact which are the big shadow over the game.

Edited by GoodGamer14 on Dec 3rd 2020 at 2:06:03 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?
#931: Dec 2nd 2020 at 9:47:24 PM

[up][up] I'm going to have to deny that motion. I'm not really into Aliens or FPS games, and even I have heard about the massive farce it was.

DivineFlame100 Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#932: Dec 3rd 2020 at 12:22:44 AM

[up][up]I would still keep the teather mishap because that actually made an impact on software companies hiring developers. Now spelling "tether" correctly is a requirement in job interviews.

Alphatater Since: May, 2020
#933: Dec 4th 2020 at 5:21:42 AM

The entire multi-point entry has been restored without alteration.

Even if parts of it are valid, it is way too long and poorly indented.

SkylaNoivern Since: Sep, 2016
#934: Dec 4th 2020 at 10:02:10 AM

Imperial Majesty XO removed the mentions of "people of color" from an entry about someone who knew about the abuses of the guy who killed George Floyd without a reason. I'm a bit iffy about whether or not it was for neutrality.

callmeamuffin Just getting into Utena... (he/they) from the kitchen (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: Thinkin' about you, muffin
Just getting into Utena... (he/they)
#935: Dec 4th 2020 at 11:30:28 AM

Would cases of accidental controversies qualify for Overshadowed by Controversy? There's a discussion about this in the discussion page for YMMV.The Witches 2020. The movie hasn't been 6 months old yet, but would it qualify after 6 months?

Edited by callmeamuffin on Dec 5th 2020 at 5:34:32 AM

Working on Sandbox.The Amazing Race TV Tropes Edition.
ATricksterArtist Back from the grave. from CH 57 (Not-So-Newbie) Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
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#936: Dec 4th 2020 at 11:31:44 AM

After those six months, the controversy might die down. The controversy has to still be around by that time to qualify.

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SkylaNoivern Since: Sep, 2016
#937: Dec 4th 2020 at 12:46:10 PM

[up]

I didn't actually know about the controversy until today, so it might be just the case of an unfortunate implication that doesn't overshadow the work itself.

Edited by SkylaNoivern on Dec 4th 2020 at 8:46:55 PM

themayorofsimpleton Short-Term Projects Herald | he/him from the Island of Koridai (Captain) Relationship Status: I won't say I'm in love
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#938: Dec 4th 2020 at 3:55:18 PM

This got added to Web Original:

  • SuperMarioLogan was one of the most popular Plush and Puppet channels on YouTube; but now he's more known nowadays for the drama surrounding his channel than his content.
    • Even ignoring the character Jeffy, who by himself is controversial, there are plenty of other examples: Constantly failing to get The Movie finished and uploaded despite giving several release dates. Not fulfilling his promises to bring back old characters and series. Catering to underage kids despite his target audience. Not giving rewards to Patreon backers, despite most of them only taking a few minutes to deliver. Blatantly making fun of his fans the time he "promised" to burn Jeffy, then following it up with an "apology" video that was basically a grab for pity that tried to guilt-trip his audience. And the list goes on and on.
    • The episode "Jeffy's Tantrum" is mostly known for when a young fan tried to hang himself because he saw Jeffy do it. When the kid's mother found out about it, the episode got pulled and Logan got in a lot of trouble with YouTube.

The first sub-bullet appears to be a List of Transgressions. The second I don't know about as I don't watch this channel. Thoughts?

Works That Require Cleanup of Complaining | Troper Wall
mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#939: Dec 4th 2020 at 5:40:22 PM

As a non-fan, I've only ever heard of the show from TV Tropes examples and have never heard any of the shit from the first bullet (which largely sounds like fan wank), but the second bullet I did somehow stumble across as a controversial issue, so I think it might count. It at least overshadows that particular episode.

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
themayorofsimpleton Short-Term Projects Herald | he/him from the Island of Koridai (Captain) Relationship Status: I won't say I'm in love
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#940: Dec 4th 2020 at 5:47:30 PM

[up] I cut the first bullets and kept the part that was OK to keep.

Works That Require Cleanup of Complaining | Troper Wall
nrjxll Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Not war
#941: Dec 5th 2020 at 1:01:27 AM

Further up the page, but I'm going to second the motion to cut the Aliens: Colonial Marines entry. It's "overshadowed" by the fact that it was a terrible game. That's not remotely a controversy in any sense of the word. Even the 'teather' thing is just a manifestation of the terrible quality control, not really this trope.

"Bad game bad" about sums up the entry.

dragonfire5000 from Where gods fear to tread Since: Jan, 2001
#942: Dec 5th 2020 at 8:24:40 AM

I'm going to agree with cutting the Colonial Marines example. If most people agree that the game was bad, there really isn't a controversy because there isn't really a heated disagreement over its quality.

"I squirm, I struggle, ergo I am. Faced with death, I am finally, truly alive."
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#943: Dec 5th 2020 at 8:30:00 AM

Yeah The "controversy" for colonial marines is that it's not ....very good. Nothing less, nothing more.

"That's right mortal. By channeling my divine rage into power, I have forged a new instrument in which to destroy you."
ImperialMajestyXO Since: Nov, 2015
#944: Dec 5th 2020 at 9:30:10 AM

I agree with cutting the parts about it being a bad game, but we should probably keep the parts about the mismanagement and legal issues.

mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#945: Dec 5th 2020 at 10:52:12 AM

[up] But do those parts overshadow the discussion of it just being a bad game?

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
SkylaNoivern Since: Sep, 2016
#946: Dec 5th 2020 at 11:25:19 AM

Is it ok if I update the entry on Peluchin Entertainment on Web Original in March (specifically, the 29th) to include the mention that his account stayed up until being shut on September 29th 2020 after YT had been criticized for not doing so?

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?
#947: Dec 5th 2020 at 3:05:05 PM

[up][up] I’d say yes to the tether spelling error, as it’s one of the most legendary coding fails in modern gaming. The rest I’m less sure about personally.

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nrjxll Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Not war
#949: Dec 5th 2020 at 6:30:25 PM

But do those parts overshadow the discussion of it just being a bad game?

Offhand, I didn't even know about the legal issues.

Alphatater Since: May, 2020
#950: Dec 7th 2020 at 4:39:38 PM

Consensus seems to be running toward cutting the Aliens: Colonial Marines entries, although some folks seem to think a streamlined entry focusing on only elements like the "tether" spelling thing could be workable.

Is there any further input?

Edited by Alphatater on Dec 7th 2020 at 4:40:26 AM


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