There has been a disturbing amount of rioting in horror circles in recent months, as fans seem to be turning on each other for a variety of reasons (most of which I won’t mention here). but in the midst of all this controversy lies an all too often overlooked problem that tragically continues to rot at the heart of the genre’s fandom: I’m talking about the “shame culture” that on the surface seems contrary to the intuition in a group normally praised for its tolerance and diversity, but it exists nonetheless, and seems to be intensifying with each passing day.
As a straight man, I feel uncomfortable talking about a systemic problem that predominantly affects women in the world of horror. Am I part of the problem? am I talking about school here? I hope not… but in any case, I can’t ignore the disturbing pattern I’m seeing among horror fans.
Just this week I was reminded of the seriousness of this issue after reading a disturbing blog post from popular cosplayer, reporter and web celebrity better known to horror fans as “darcy the mail girl” aka Diana Prince, in Shudder’s hit series The Ultimate Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs.
The entry, titled “Fake Parts, Real Heart,” lays bare a deep-seated prejudice that plagues so many fan communities: the emotionally abusive trend of body-shaming, which is almost entirely directed toward women and mostly perpetrated by men. Darcy addresses her long history with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), which she has experienced since childhood, and explains how her physical appearance was scrutinized and criticized by her own parents. Her own sense of self-worth was constantly sabotaged by her classmates, who went to elaborate lengths to humiliate her — especially after realizing no adults would come to her aid.
That last part tore me up the most: As a skinny, nerdy, naive kid raised by ultraconservative and overprotective parents, I spent most of my teenage years in an endless hell of physical problems. , emotional and even sexual abuse by classmates, often with the tacit approval of teachers and other adults. I still have the scars, both inside and out, and I’m afraid if I hadn’t gone through a huge growth spurt as a sophomore and taken up martial arts, I might not even be alive to write these words. .
but regardless of my own story, this is where i have to acknowledge my own privilege: after all, my own bullying stopped pretty much overnight, but darcy’s personal hell continued into adulthood and continues nowadays, mainly thanks to the double-edged sword that is social networks.
“I first realized online bullying existed in 2006,” darcy writes, describing an incident that year when she was a reporter for music+ tv and found herself kicked out of the e3 convention and sued the policeman. — for wearing a slightly revealing Wonder Woman costume.
But that wasn’t even the worst…not even close.
After Darcy posted a video disputing the E3 rejection and arguing for equal and fair treatment among fellow cosplayers, the avalanche of online insults began… and they never stopped. When she began her career in the adult industry (under the name Diana Prince), she soon realized how petty, hostile and hateful people — mostly men — could be when confronted with a body type they found less than “perfect.”
Leaving behind that phase of her career didn’t seem to change much in the way the so-called “fans” spewed vitriol, and it almost took her away from her amazing new job as joe bob’s wisecracking, social sidekick. media guru after the production of the series’ first last drive-in episode marathon.
“i cried to [joe bob] because i couldn’t stand to be looked at and judged anymore,” darcy writes. “I literally left my house for the first time in about a year and a half without being fully covered…before that I had been in a very long depression and wouldn’t talk to anyone or go anywhere unless it was absolutely required.”
however, joe bob continued to defend his importance to the show and insisted that he continue. “I told [joe bob] I never wanted to do that again, but he, being the stubborn and understanding dad figure that he is, convinced me to try again when they pick up the show.” Thankfully, she stayed the course and remains a regular part of the show… but her fears continue to be well founded, as viewers still savagely attack her for her looks.
darcy also points out the double standard among fans of the genre (or just about any group of fans…remember gamergate?) that male media figures (joe bob included) are rarely ridiculed or criticized for their appearance, which drives home the point that women are still regularly objectified in the media, and a woman’s worth is still measured on the basis of her physical appearance and little else.
In the face of this adversity, Darcy has rallied the strength to confront her own fears, and has officially turned her back on them — an act she compares (as many a dedicated horror fan would) to Nancy’s rebuke of Freddy Krueger in A Nightmare on Elm Street. “I take back every bit of energy I ever gave you,” Darcy declares in the face of the all-too-real monsters attacking her online. “I refuse to waste one more second crying over people who want to insult my (or anyone else’s) appearance.”
quoting nancy for the last time, he summarizes his justified opinion about these losers: “you are nothing. you’re a piece of shit and I won’t be afraid of you anymore.”
Remember that when you think of criticizing someone for their appearance, don’t mention their race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, personal beliefs, or anything else you consider “other.” If horror is going to be a haven for the imagination to help us deal with the real-life nightmares we see on the news every day, it’s time we reclaim that energy and take back our beloved genre from those who hate.