Morning Jolt: ‘Toxic Fans’ Reflect a Society that Is Desperate to Believe in Something

The latest issue of The New Yorker knows how to grab your attention. The headline promises, "How Superfans Captured the Culture," and warns, "One afternoon, Wanna Thompson, a Nicki Minaj fan, wrote a mildly critical tweet about her idol. Hours later, she had received hundreds of threatening messages — including one from Minaj's own account — and been fired from her internship. Michael Shulman reports on the rise of extreme fandom."

If you're wondering how critical Thompson was, she merely wrote, "You know how dope it would be if Nicki put out mature content? No silly [stuff]. Just reflecting on past relationships, being a boss, hardships, etc. She's touching 40 soon, a new direction is needed." Not exactly a scathing reproach, but apparently one that hundreds of people believed must be rebuked with a response of pure rage.

Extreme fandom, toxic fandom — The New Yorker article argues, "fans are more powerful than ever." Is this something new, though? How different is this from young women getting into screaming ...

September 19 2019

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'Toxic Fans' Reflect a Society that Is Desperate to Believe in Something Jim Geraghty The latest issue of The New Yorker knows how to grab your attention. The headline promises, "How Superfans Captured the Culture," and warns, "One afternoon, Wanna Thompson, a Nicki Minaj fan, wrote a mildly critical tweet about her idol. Hours later, she had received hundreds of threatening messages — including one from Minaj's own account — and been fired from her internship. Michael Shulman reports on the rise of extreme fandom." If you're wondering how critical Thompson was, she merely wrote, "You know how dope it would be if Nicki put out mature content? No silly [stuff]. Just reflecting on past relationships, being a boss, hardships, etc. She's touching 40 soon, a new direction is needed." Not exactly a scathing reproach, but apparently one that hundreds of people believed must be rebuked with a response of pure rage. Extreme fandom, toxic fandom — The New Yorker article argues, "fans are more powerful than ever." Is this something new, though? How different is this from young women getting into screaming ... Read More ADVERTISEMENT Top Stories Nashville, the Great American Movie, Returns Armond White This Seventies masterwork constantly refers back to how Americans regard their heritage and carry it forward or — for an era that is steadily fragmenting -- how they lose it. Altman's expansive, open-hearted embrace urges moviegoers to make America great again. All Hail the Reactionary Downton Abbey Kyle Smith The sharp and entertaining British series has been made into an equally appealing feature film. Taliban Kills 20 in Third Day of Surging Violence in Afghanistan Zachary Evans Taliban operatives detonated a truck bomb in Qalat, killing at least twenty people and injuring 95 others as the blast leveled a hospital. ADVERTISEMENT An American Listening Crisis, in Nashville Kyle Smith The film is a portrait of a country where people make all sorts of sounds but nobody is hearing anything. Brad Pitt's Egotism Is Hurting His Movies Kyle Smith Produced by Pitt and starring Pitt as a hero with deep thoughts, 'Ad Astra' is beautiful but silly and slow. Trump Is Right to Ditch the California Auto Waiver The Editors The government should not force the industry to meet unreasonable standards, force customers to pay for it, or allow California to set national policy. Trump's Total Culture War Victor Davis Hanson Trump has so enraged his Democratic adversaries that the candidates to replace him have moved farther to the left than any primary field in memory. Women's March Dismisses New Board Member amid Backlash over Statements Comparing ISIS to... Zachary Evans Zahra Billoo, who just joined the board of the Women's March, announced on her twitter feed Thursday morning that she has been voted off the board. ADVERTISEMENT WHAT NR IS READING The Madness of Crowds: Gender, Race and Identity Douglas Murray “Simply brilliant.” — Sam Harris LEARN MORE Photo Essays Top Shots USS Wayne E. Meyer ADVERTISEMENT Follow Us & Share 19 West 44th Street, Suite 1701, New York, NY, 10036, USA Your Preferences | Unsubscribe | Privacy View this e-mail in your browser.