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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

ImperialMajestyXO Since: Nov, 2015
#2001: Aug 16th 2021 at 10:18:45 PM

When I think of terms it coined, I think of "skub". I didn't even know "weeaboo" originated from it.

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)
#2002: Aug 16th 2021 at 10:29:41 PM

I, for one, always just assumed Weeaboo was an actual word, and not just a Neologism.

Edited by WarJay77 on Aug 16th 2021 at 1:29:55 PM

Working on: Author Appeal | Sandbox | Troper Wall
Delibirda from Splatsville Since: Sep, 2020 Relationship Status: I wanna be your dog
#2003: Aug 16th 2021 at 11:22:52 PM

While it coined the term, it did not have its current usage.

Edited by Delibirda on Aug 16th 2021 at 8:23:01 PM

"Listen up, Marina, because this is SUPER important. Whatever you do, don't eat th“ “DON'T EAT WHAT?! Your text box ran out of space!”
themayorofsimpleton Short-Term Projects Herald | he/him from the Island of Koridai (Captain) Relationship Status: I won't say I'm in love
Short-Term Projects Herald | he/him
#2004: Aug 17th 2021 at 6:17:37 AM

Dongwa Chan, you are acting like "weeaboo" is a slur. It's not. I'm fairly certain Sponge Bat 1 is not referring to all anime fans, just the obsessive ones which the term "weeaboo" is often applied to.

Works That Require Cleanup of Complaining | Troper Wall
NoUsername she's only programmed to be very nice Since: May, 2012
she's only programmed to be very nice
#2005: Aug 17th 2021 at 1:38:27 PM

from a few pages back, sorry:

Overshadowed by Controversy: It's pretty much impossible to discuss the ride without mentioning the outrage that came from the fact that it replaced The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, one of Disney's most beloved rides.
Is this really an example? I know the change was extremely controversial among Disney park fans, but I doubt most of the general public cares in the slightest.

at least here in florida, where the tower of terror is extremely iconic, it's still a big deal to even the general public that they changed it from twilight zone to guardians of the galaxy. i still have conversations about that from people who only casually go to the disney parks. i know that's more of a hyperlocalized example, though. i think it might not necessarily be "controversy" anymore, but i think that "it used to be the tower of terror" precedes its reputation as "the first guardians of the galaxy ride", if that makes sense.

bowserbros No longer active. from Elsewhere Since: May, 2014
No longer active.
#2006: Aug 17th 2021 at 3:04:18 PM

[up]If that's true, it may be worth clarifying in the point that it's largely confined to locals in the area. Then again I'm not sure whether or not that would count as shoehorning since Overshadowed by Controversy mostly seems to be about cases that surround the wider general public (as nebulous of a term as that is).

Be kind.
ImperialMajestyXO Since: Nov, 2015
#2007: Aug 17th 2021 at 3:17:39 PM

Somebody removed both examples related to Dale Earnhardt's death on Overshadowed by Controversy.Sports, saying he was against safety measures that could've saved his life. Is that really justification for removing them?

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!
#2008: Aug 17th 2021 at 3:21:38 PM

[up] That's not a valid reason for removal.

2025: the year it all ends?
bowserbros No longer active. from Elsewhere Since: May, 2014
No longer active.
#2009: Aug 17th 2021 at 3:22:13 PM

[up][up]The full reason says "Earnhardt was against the safety measures that could've saved his life. He knew the risks like every other driver that day."

That just reeks of victim blaming; I'd say restore it.

Edited by bowserbros on Aug 17th 2021 at 3:22:23 AM

Be kind.
mightymewtron Word Up from New New York Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Word Up
#2010: Aug 17th 2021 at 3:34:06 PM

Also how does that make it less of a controversy? If anything that just fuels it further.

I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.
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!
#2011: Aug 17th 2021 at 3:36:29 PM

The Big Finish Doctor Who example in the Radio folder seems like it fits better on Role-Ending Misdemeanor, as the work itself isn't overshadowed by James Dreyfus' absence.

2025: the year it all ends?
Siegfried1337 Calabash. from The Eastern Luminant Since: Sep, 2018 Relationship Status: Will you go out with me to the End?
Calabash.
#2012: Aug 17th 2021 at 3:43:08 PM

No Username: It's more of a example of Replacement Scrappy, and I'm not even sure if it counts.

Eh, good enough.
NoUsername she's only programmed to be very nice Since: May, 2012
she's only programmed to be very nice
#2013: Aug 18th 2021 at 4:28:25 PM

[up] yeah, i'd agree on that. honestly i'd be in favor more of just removing the entry altogether

Acebrock He/Him from So-Cal Since: Dec, 2009 Relationship Status: My elf kissing days are over
He/Him
#2014: Aug 18th 2021 at 7:07:31 PM

I don't really like this example on OvershadowedByControversy.Video Games

  • Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear is an interquel which bridges the story between the first and second Baldur's gate game. However, to most fans of the franchise (as well as quite a few fans of the genre), it is better known for two specific controversies. The first one was related to a (now removed) throwaway line about "ethics in heroic adventuring" made by Minsc, which refered to another (notorious) controversy, Gamergate. The second (and far bigger) controversy was caused by Mizhena, an NPC vendor, who mentioned through optional dialogue that she was raised as a boy, but changed her gender later in life. This sparked a vocal backlash from some people, as they saw it as a blatant attempt at shoe-horning in "political correctness" and "social justice", causing them to review-bomb the game throughout the days after release. It didn't help that Amber Scott, one of the writers for the game, told off this specific subset of the game's detractors in a forum post on the Beamdog forums, adding fuel to the fire.note  While some might say that the "social justice" controversy was much ado about nothing, it is nevertheless one of those things that's still talked about years later (albeit not as vocally).

The biggest issue for me is that note which strikes me as treating transphobia as potentially as moral as supporting transgender advocacy, though the mentions of Gamergate have me wondering (I think I recall mentions of that particular controversy are banned from the site, but I may be misremembering or that may have changed). Am I being oversensitive, or...?

My troper wall
KUnlimited Since: Sep, 2020
Serac she/her (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: Oh my word! I'm gay!
she/her
#2016: Aug 19th 2021 at 12:35:02 AM

Yeah, no. There's no serious debate as to whether trans people who just want to live their lives are more morally correct than the people who define themselves by who they hate. That entry should call the transphobic backlash what it is rather than using scare quotes and both-sidesing the issue to make it seem like more of a debate than it actually is, and the note is irrelevant on top of being misleading.

Incidentally, it used to say "an outrage among the far-right" rather than "a vocal backlash from some people", which I would say is more accurate.

ImperialMajestyXO Since: Nov, 2015
#2017: Aug 19th 2021 at 1:45:57 AM

[up] I could tweak that entry.

Anyway, would anyone object if I added a rewritten DSP entry in the Web Original subpage, since I've already established that there actually are things to overshadow?

nrjxll Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Not war
#2018: Aug 19th 2021 at 2:53:58 AM

Honestly, the way that entry is currently written it's borderline transphobic itself. Definitely fix that.

[up]What is "DSP"?

ImperialMajestyXO Since: Nov, 2015
#2019: Aug 19th 2021 at 2:59:03 AM

[up] Darksyde Phil, aka The King Of Hate, an infamous let's player.

Here's my proposed rewrite:

  • Philip Burnell, better known by his handles The King Of Hate and DarksydePhil, was one of the first video let's players to get big on YouTube. But now, his playthroughs have been eclipsed by his reputation for poor treatment of his fans, former friends, and ex-girlfriend PandaLee, which has made him one of the most hated let's players of all.

AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#2020: Aug 19th 2021 at 2:59:17 AM

Since it's Web Original, probably Darksyde Phil.

themayorofsimpleton Short-Term Projects Herald | he/him from the Island of Koridai (Captain) Relationship Status: I won't say I'm in love
Short-Term Projects Herald | he/him
#2022: Aug 19th 2021 at 4:38:41 AM

[up][up][up] I don't think DSP is really overshadowed by poor treatment of fans, etc. I think his main "controversy" is (yet again) that he is a terrible Let's Player. When I think of him, that's what comes to my mind, along with all the mockeries of his content (I think Retsupurae did a mocking video of him I remember watching a while back in particular.)

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ImperialMajestyXO Since: Nov, 2015
#2023: Aug 19th 2021 at 9:35:41 AM

[up] I'd say the operative words are "a while back". Nowadays, his mistreatment has become far more prominently known.

themayorofsimpleton Short-Term Projects Herald | he/him from the Island of Koridai (Captain) Relationship Status: I won't say I'm in love
Short-Term Projects Herald | he/him
#2024: Aug 19th 2021 at 9:39:28 AM

[up] "A while back" was in reference to when I watched the video. I currently do not support the claim that DSP is more well-known for the abuse, unless some evidence is provided as the only thing I have watched recently about DSP is the Down the Rabbit Hole video about him.

Works That Require Cleanup of Complaining | Troper Wall
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)
#2025: Aug 19th 2021 at 12:19:37 PM

Yeah, I didn't even really know about that stuff either.

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