by DualShock2 December 11, 2024
Get the mastermind mug.“Monstering” is when UK newspapers collectively vilify, dehumanize, or relentlessly attack an someone through sustained negative coverage. It’s a form of character assassination and moral panic–style persecution.
They are targeted over days, weeks, years. Stories are repeated with sensational or misleading framing to keep public outrage alive. They are portrayed as grotesque, dangerous, morally repugnant. Language strips them of sympathy — “beast,” “evil,” “scum,” etc. Humiliating or unflattering photos are chosen. They imply that the person represents something wrong with society — a moral decay, corruption, or threat to “decent people.”
Multiple outlets pile on, copying and amplifying each other’s stories.
The press follows the person’s every move, contacts relatives, digs into private life, and publishes details irrelevant to the public interest. The Leveson Inquiry (2011–12) exposed many such tactics.
The term gained prominence following the News of the World phone-hacking scandal. It was notably used by actor Hugh Grant and others describing how the press would “monster” people who challenged them — turning critics or public figures into tabloid villains. The practice reflects power dynamics: tabloids can make or destroy reputations, and “monstering” serves as both entertainment and intimidation.
They are targeted over days, weeks, years. Stories are repeated with sensational or misleading framing to keep public outrage alive. They are portrayed as grotesque, dangerous, morally repugnant. Language strips them of sympathy — “beast,” “evil,” “scum,” etc. Humiliating or unflattering photos are chosen. They imply that the person represents something wrong with society — a moral decay, corruption, or threat to “decent people.”
Multiple outlets pile on, copying and amplifying each other’s stories.
The press follows the person’s every move, contacts relatives, digs into private life, and publishes details irrelevant to the public interest. The Leveson Inquiry (2011–12) exposed many such tactics.
The term gained prominence following the News of the World phone-hacking scandal. It was notably used by actor Hugh Grant and others describing how the press would “monster” people who challenged them — turning critics or public figures into tabloid villains. The practice reflects power dynamics: tabloids can make or destroy reputations, and “monstering” serves as both entertainment and intimidation.
“The monstering was high energy. Doubt turned into certainty that we’d done it wrong.” - Nick Davis’ character in The Hack, after Rupert Murdoch’s newspapers attacked him for a small discrepancy to shift the blame from Murdoch to Nick, the reporter exposing him and his media.
by Monstering October 15, 2025
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Damn, she really Egg monstered after he kissed her at that party
If she runs away Egg monstering, she's probably texting me.
If she runs away Egg monstering, she's probably texting me.
by Noot noot December 30, 2016
Get the Egg Monstering mug.by Plop August 5, 2016
Get the cookie monstering mug.Dave: Bob invited Jared to his place and now he says $200,000 is missing from his bank account.
Ernie: I'll bet Jared is a Nigerian Mastermind.
Dave: What is that?
Ernie: Just ask Bob cause he'll explain it better than me.
*Dave calls Bob on phone*
Bob: Hello?
Dave: Hey Bob, it's Dave. What's a Nigerian Mastermind?
Bob: A person so smart they could literally steal the stripes off a zebra.
Ernie: I'll bet Jared is a Nigerian Mastermind.
Dave: What is that?
Ernie: Just ask Bob cause he'll explain it better than me.
*Dave calls Bob on phone*
Bob: Hello?
Dave: Hey Bob, it's Dave. What's a Nigerian Mastermind?
Bob: A person so smart they could literally steal the stripes off a zebra.
by Skorpious June 29, 2020
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