Unexpected Fandom

Why are so many cult leader stans showing out on the internet???

Cult Adjacent | Kevin Samuels, a controversial and sexist YouTuber, passed away on May 5, 2022. Following his death, several fans expressed their adoration by getting his face tattooed on them. See the example below. The tattoos quickly went viral and many people expressed confusion about this degree of infatuation for Samuels. As always, such a debate about this kind of commitment to a public figure left me wondering if the tattoos/praise were “culty”?

Fellow supporters argue that memorializing the YouTuber is not unlike the many tattoos people have of their loved ones and historical figures. I think there is a difference between memorializing a YouTuber versus your favorite auntie. However, I do not think the tattoo is culty, just kind of weird.

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The Big Post | Do you want to know what wasn’t on my 2022 Bingo card? People sharing how much they like and/or admire the cult leaders I cover. To be fair, I also never expected that we would build a community of 20,000+ people interested in cults. 🤷🏽‍♀️

Comment from my video on Mother Anna, who was convicted of murdering a child and viciously abusing other children over two decades.

Comment from my video on Dwight “Malachi” York, who is currently serving a 135-year prison sentence for sexual misconduct against minors and RICO charges.

I do not have room in this post to share with you the many other comments I got praising York. In fact, at the time of this post, someone wrote that York’s predictions are being studied by NASA and that I am “sad” and “uninformed.” Despite the evidence and testimony of their victims, these cult leaders are still highly regarded and defended. I have been thinking a lot about why, despite ample evidence and testimony, so many dangerous leaders are still praised?