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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

Crossover-Enthusiast from an abaondoned mall (Lucky 7) Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#101: Oct 2nd 2019 at 9:50:17 AM

[up] I feel "wave of propaganda" in quotes would be easier to swallow, as it's implying it's the troper quoting what she said and that it (hopefully) isn't their opinion.

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¢
HamburgerTime Since: Apr, 2010
#102: Oct 2nd 2019 at 8:37:40 PM

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.

RallyBot2 (Elder Troper) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
#103: Oct 3rd 2019 at 7:42:31 AM

I wouldn't say MTX overshadows RuneScape as a whole. It's far from the worst game for that anyway.

chasemaddigan I'm Sad Frogerson. Since: Oct, 2011
I'm Sad Frogerson.
#104: Oct 4th 2019 at 11:12:35 AM

[up][up] If the controversy only started last month, that's too soon to list it. Again, we have a six month waiting period to make sure these controversies last.

RallyBot2 (Elder Troper) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
#105: Oct 4th 2019 at 12:58:02 PM

[up]The MTX stuff has been going on far longer than six months, this incident just added fuel to the fire.

HighCrate Since: Mar, 2015
#106: Oct 10th 2019 at 3:24:03 PM

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.

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!
#107: Oct 10th 2019 at 3:26:23 PM

[up] Obvious cut is obvious. Doesn't overshadow any of their works.

2025: the year it all ends?
Crossover-Enthusiast from an abaondoned mall (Lucky 7) Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#108: Oct 10th 2019 at 3:27:09 PM

Could go under Fallen Creator with a rewrite.

Edited by Crossover-Enthusiast on Oct 10th 2019 at 6:27:34 AM

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DivineFlame100 Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#109: Oct 10th 2019 at 3:28:32 PM

[up] 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

RallyBot2 (Elder Troper) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
#110: Oct 10th 2019 at 4:13:39 PM

[up]The example is still primarily about the work being OBC, not the company.

It's not that companies absolutely can't be OBC, but 90% of people trying to add a company would just be doing it to complain.

DivineFlame100 Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#111: Oct 10th 2019 at 4:21:03 PM

Alright, good to know. Thanks.

HighCrate Since: Mar, 2015
#112: Oct 11th 2019 at 6:42:14 AM

[up][up] The trope definition for OBC specifically and repeatedly refers to works. Not companies, and not creators.

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!
#113: Oct 11th 2019 at 2:29:17 PM

[up] Tropes are intended to be flexible. Though I'm not sure whether this one should be.

2025: the year it all ends?
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!
#114: Oct 11th 2019 at 2:44:56 PM

(removed)

Edited by bwburke94 on Oct 11th 2019 at 6:21:44 AM

2025: the year it all ends?
RallyBot2 (Elder Troper) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
#115: Oct 11th 2019 at 3:20:07 PM

It isn't NRLEP... though the Real Life page needs a ROCEJ cleanup.

Edit: The trope description specifically says that creators can qualify as well.

Edited by RallyBot2 on Oct 11th 2019 at 6:22:38 AM

HighCrate Since: Mar, 2015
#116: Oct 11th 2019 at 3:24:24 PM

It... doesn't, though? It talks about various creator actions that might overshadow a work, but it's still the work being overshadowed.

RallyBot2 (Elder Troper) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
#117: Oct 11th 2019 at 3:26:53 PM

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.

razorrozar7 Migrated to Chloe Jessica! from Chloe Jessica Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: Hooked on a feeling
Migrated to Chloe Jessica!
#118: Oct 11th 2019 at 3:47:58 PM

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!
HighCrate Since: Mar, 2015
#119: Oct 11th 2019 at 4:14:04 PM

[up][up] 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.

[up] 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

Crossover-Enthusiast from an abaondoned mall (Lucky 7) Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#120: Oct 12th 2019 at 8:57:41 PM

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.

Jawbreakers on sale for 99¢
ADrago Since: Dec, 2015
#121: Oct 12th 2019 at 9:10:43 PM

[up] While that has been causing controversy, it's still too recent.

DivineFlame100 Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#122: Oct 13th 2019 at 3:58:16 AM

Wait, hold up here, now I'm confused. Should I delete the Sekai Project example then if it just talks about the creators?

RallyBot2 (Elder Troper) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
HighCrate Since: Mar, 2015
#124: Oct 13th 2019 at 8:28:08 AM

[up][up] Yeah, sorry, we sort of got sidetracked talking about generalities. The specific example looks fine: the example is the work, which is overshadowed by controversy surrounding its localization company.

RallyBot2 (Elder Troper) Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
#125: Oct 13th 2019 at 3:01:16 PM

I'm still not sure why you think examples about a company aren't valid to begin with.


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