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
While I love the game, I've started to wonder if RuneScape might be at least approaching OBC. The game's microtransaction system has never exactly been what you'd call well-liked, but the backlash reached an absolute furor last month upon the revelation that the game is under investigation by the UK Parliament for said MTX system facilitating underage gambling.
From OvershadowedByControversy.Video Games:
- Activision Blizzard is now known among gamers for the several controversies that snowballed into an all out PR disaster that started during the 2nd half of the 2010s. It started with the use of microtransactions in their games like their flagship title World of Warcraft and their latest game Overwatch. Then there was the announcement of the Diablo mobile game which gained massive backlash against Blizzard and spawned the infamous "Do you guys not have phones?" meme. Next there was the 'Ellie' scandal in the Overwatch E-Sports scene as well as allegations
of racial abuse that an employee wrote about from colleagues. Not helping matters was that Soldier: 76 was confirmed gay in the same day, which many accused Blizzard of doing to cover up their scandals.
I find this entire entry highly suspect. OBC is specifically about works, not companies, and while these controversies certainly happened, you'd be hard-pressed to show that any of the works cited have actually been overshadowed by them in any meaningful way.
Could go under Fallen Creator with a rewrite.
Edited by Crossover-Enthusiast on Oct 10th 2019 at 6:27:34 AM
Jawbreakers on sale for 99¢
Yeah. I think it's better suited for Fallen Creator.
With that being said, I would also like an opinion on this entry that I added a long while ago and whether or not it qualifies.
- In many visual novel circles, it is difficult to bring up Grisaia no Kajitsu without mentioning its then-localization company Sekai Project and the many controversies that spawned from it. Mainly in regards to their questionable translations, business practices (especially with Kickstarter), and the antics of their CEO Dovac, who infamously went on uncivil Twitter rants against fan patchers attempting to bypass their distribution policies. Grisaia was in the center of the controversy thanks to in large part of unfulfilled Kickstarter promises and the fan patch debacle
that unfolded in late 2016, which the visual novel itself once hosted.note
I was a member of Fuwanovel when this happened so the incident is well-documented over there, and I even played the fan patch that became the point of contention in that debacle. If you go on Fuwanovel or any visual novel-related forums now and mention Grisaia, all discussions will be derailed by anything about Sekai Project. However, since High Crate says that companies should never be the subject of being overshadowed by controversy, doesn't that mean this example does not count?
Edited by DivineFlame100 on Oct 10th 2019 at 3:47:10 AM
- Additionally, since most scandals and controversies tend to not overshadow a work or creator in the long run, only add examples if the controversy in question is still the main point of discussion about a work/creator after at least a few months (six months to be absolutely safe)
Emphasis mine. Tropes Are Flexible.
Migrated to Chloe Jessica!
im fine with OBC applying to companies, too. if a company gets overshadowed, so do their products, at least to an extent.
Migrated to Chloe Jessica!![]()
That note was added in May of this year as part of our project to impose waiting periods on certain Audience Reactions and should hardly be taken to supersede literally the entire rest of the trope description.
Then... the works are examples. It's still the works that are overshadowed (or not).
Edited by HighCrate on Oct 11th 2019 at 4:19:30 AM
When did the third season for Big Mouth drop? This was just added and I think it's way too soon for it:
- Season 3's messages on sexual orientation were overshadowed for Ali's explanation of pansexuality in "Rankings" due to her definition calling bisexuality "so binary" and implying only pansexual people can date trans people. Despite the season's good intentions, with the rest of the episode showcasing the Double Standard in how Ali's pansexuality is fetishized and Jay's bisexuality is dismissed, a lot of LGBT fans were too uncomfortable with the transphobic definitions of bisexuality and pansexuality. Co-creator Andrew Goldberg even apologized
in light of the backlash.
- Season 3's messages on sexual orientation were overshadowed for Ali's explanation of pansexuality in "Rankings" due to her definition calling bisexuality "so binary" and implying only pansexual people can date trans people. Despite the season's good intentions, with the rest of the episode showcasing the Double Standard in how Ali's pansexuality is fetishized and Jay's bisexuality is dismissed, a lot of LGBT fans were too uncomfortable with the transphobic definitions of bisexuality and pansexuality. Co-creator Andrew Goldberg even apologized

Anyway, a quick Google search shows a lot of stuff about the controversy on the first page, but as it just happened last month, the example should be removed on principle, meaning the page should be cut.
Gotta admit though, that discount on the game is a major spite move. Those devs have balls.
Jawbreakers on sale for 99¢