Has Fandom Gone Too Far? Beloved Franchise Creator Targeted by Disturbed Fan
In recent years, the concept of “toxic fandom” has become all too familiar. What was once a space for passionate fans to celebrate their beloved franchises has turned into a breeding ground for vitriol, harassment, and hostility. The sheer entitlement some fans feel over creative decisions has led to real consequences for actors and creators alike.
Toxic Fandoms and Online Harassment
A prime example can be seen with Star Wars, where Kelly Marie Tran, who portrayed Rose Tico in the sequel trilogy films, was subjected to such intense online abuse that she eventually deleted her social media accounts. Actress Moses Ingram, who played Reva in the live-action Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi, faced racial abuse for her role.
More recently, Disney’s live-action adaptations, including The Little Mermaid (2023) and Snow White (2025), saw actors like Halle Bailey and Rachel Zegler targeted by toxic fans over the alleged “race-swap” casting. But it’s not just Disney projects that are feeling the heat, as The Legend of Zelda is now embroiled in its own toxic fan controversy.
Discourse Around The Legend of Zelda Casting
On July 16, Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Zelda, announced the casting of Bo Bragason and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Princess Zelda and Link, in the upcoming live-action film, which is being directed by Wes Ball (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes) and is set for release in 2027.
The decision to greenlight a live-action Zelda film followed the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which grossed over $1.3 billion globally in 2023.
Why Are People Upset?
While many fans were thrilled with the casting decision—praising the actors’ striking resemblance to their characters and their relative obscurity—others were not so pleased.
The backlash centers around the casting of Bo Bragason, with several pro-trans fans previously expecting Hunter Schafer, the trans actress known for her roles in Euphoria and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, to have been cast as Zelda.
Schafer had become a fan-favorite, with many campaigning for her to be cast in the role. However, there were never any discussions between Schafer and the film’s producers, meaning this was a case of fan-casting that was taken too far.
Related: Walt Disney’s New Animatronic Sparks Body-Shaming Backlash
One Fan Has Shared a Disturbing Post About Miyamoto
Despite the absence of any official talks, the anger from some fans reached dangerous levels. One user took to X (formerly Twitter) to post a violent message calling for the death of Shigeru Miyamoto over his casting decision.
The post, which read “hunter schafer should be allowed to kill miyamoto,” was swiftly deleted, and the user’s account was removed from the platform. But while the post was removed, it has spread quickly, sparking widespread condemnation from fans.
This isn’t the first time online fandoms have crossed a line between passion and toxicity. As one user noted, “They are not obligated to make your fan casting reality.”
Yet the growing sense of entitlement among some fans (regardless of where they sit politically)—where they demand that stories and casting align with their personal vision—continues to fuel online discourse, often spilling into harassment and threats.
Fueling most of the discourse surrounding the Zelda casting, however, are vitriolic slurs from both pro-trans fans and anti-trans fans regarding Schafer.
As the world of fandom continues to evolve, one thing is clear: the line between passionate advocacy and harmful toxicity has never been thinner.
The Legend of Zelda hits theaters May 7, 2027.
Are you excited about The Legend of Zelda? What do you think about all the controversy? Let us know in the comments down below!
