Fandom Rot 

When the reputation of a piece of media (such as a TV show or a video game) on the internet is soured thanks to the unsavory nature of some of its fans who have nothing to do with the media itself, usually amplified by its detractors who compile this unsavory content on sites such as YouTube, in which Fandom Rot can also be called Hatedom Rot. This can in turn prevent newcomers from wanting to check out the media for themselves, usually out of fear of being associated with those fans.

Fandom Rot can "heal" as a piece of media decreases in popularity and/or if its fans and detractors mature and either have a change of heart or move onto different things.

However, some pieces of media may be doomed to suffer from Fandom Rot forever as its fanbase becomes synonymous with it. The people who own the piece of media may also feel it's a good idea to acknowledge or insert a joke or reference about their unsavory fans within the media itself, but this usually just immortalizes the Fandom Rot as a part of the franchise.

P1: Hey, have you heard of Otto's Quest?
P2: Otto's Quest? That show sucks! The fandom is so cringe! Haven't you seen the cringe compilations?
P1: What does any of that have to do with the show itself?
P2: ...I never really thought of that. I still don't want to watch it, though.
P3: Hey guys, have you seen the newest episode where Otto meets one of his weird fans? They got the behavior down to a T!
P1: Why would they want to associate with that? The Fandom Rot has really gotten to the writers' heads.
P2: Does anyone else suddenly feel like watching Otto's Quest?

Fandom Rot by yeetyoteyacht July 13, 2023