EARLIER THIS MONTH, Twitter was awash with a worrying number of tributes to Joe Goldberg – the psychopathic lead character in You, who happens to be a stalker and serial murderer.
Such was the extent of the veneration, Penn Badgley who plays Joe, felt compelled to respond to individual tweets, explaining why admiring his character was a questionable inclination.
But the message clearly didn’t land with everyone if the response to Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes is anything to go by.
Indeed, since the launch of the Netflix documentary which chronicles the life and crimes of real-life serial killer, Ted Bundy, Twitter users have been dubbing an individual, who was responsible for the death of more than 30 women, as ‘cute’.
i’m just gonna say it, there was no reason for ted bundy to be that cute and that psycho at the same time.
— q u i n c e y (@quinceynirvana) January 25, 2019
coming out as a ted bundy stan 🙈💕
— mary (@peneIopeprk) January 25, 2019
abbey is texting me about how hot ted bundy was... i’m now accepting new best friend applications since this white bitch lost her marbles
— maddie 💘 (@deadgirlmaddie) January 25, 2019
I leave for a few hours only to come back and see Ted Bundy stan accounts I’m through
— coke daddy (@paintedmeaureum) January 28, 2019
Ted Bundy kinda cute tho👀😜
— boner champ (@Hey_Haven) January 25, 2019
This questionable admiration appears to be further fuelled by the upcoming film, which stars Zac Efron as the infamous serial rapist and killer.
Indeed, just like the romantisation of Penn Badgley’s character in You, some Zac Efron fans are taking the same approach to the individual he portrays in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile.
Whether those involved in the conversation are referring to Bundy himself, or the character as portrayed by Zac Efron, the problematic nature of the sentiment is hard to ignore.
Acknowledging this, a number of Twitter users have, thankfully, urged others to draw boundaries when considering the sensitive nature of the subject.
Right so I enjoyed the Ted Bundy tapes doc on Netflix and I’m really looking forward to the Zac Efron movie but fucking hell please don’t start romanticising serial killers. Morbid fascination is ok but these people committed literal atrocities, it is not okay to stan
— Hannah-Grace_WinterVersion_21 (@itsgotahyphen) January 28, 2019
i’m scared that now zac efron is playing ted bundy that stan twitter and tumblr are going to romanticise him😬
— bee🔮 (@beehibiscus) January 28, 2019
It’s okay to love Zac Efron. It’s not okay to love/sexualise Ted Bundy. LOVE THE ACTOR. NOT THE CHARACTER. please and thanks.
— Katherine Langford stan (@langfordcomics) January 27, 2019
A movie trailer came out with Zac Efron as Ted Bundy. I can't believe there are ppl who stan him. He was one of the most prolific serial killer and there are ppl stanning him now. 🤬🤢
— EvJenny Lee (@SilverIce92) January 28, 2019
can't believe there are actual people who'd stan ted bundy (just bec zac efron portrays him) istg if this aint idiotic culture idk what is
— L 🌻 (@loisesagayo_) January 27, 2019
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