
Toxic fandom is nothing new, but we’re reminded on a regular basis how fan culture continues to entrench itself in increasing toxicity. Impassioned responses are being replaced by harassment and threats, sadly evoking that the word ‘fan’ is an abbreviation of ‘fanatic’.
The latest victim of this deeply troubling behaviour is British actor Paapa Essiedu, who is set to star as Professor Severus Snape in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series.