Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

George RR Martin condemns ‘anti-fans’ who ‘dance on the graves of movies that flop’

‘Game of Thrones’ author said: ‘It used to be fun talking about our favourite books and films and having spirited debates with fans who saw things different’

Inga Parkel
Friday 02 February 2024 17:53 GMT
Comments
George RR Martin criticises Lord of the Rings

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

George RR Martin has called out the “anti-fans” who delight in pillorying underperforming films, books or TV shows.

Writing on his personal blog on 29 January, the prolific Game of Thrones author and screenwriter reflected on 2023, calling it “a nightmare of a year”.

“I take solace where I can,” Martin, 75, said. “In chocolate thrones, if nowhere else. In books. In films and television shows… though even there, toxicity is growing.

“The era of rational discourse seems to have ended,” he lamented, adding that it “used to be fun talking about our favourite books and films, and having spirited debates with fans who saw things different”.

“But somehow in this age of social media, it is no longer enough to say, ‘I did not like book X or film Y, and here’s why’,” he continued.

“Now social media is ruled by anti-fans who would rather talk about the stuff they hate than the stuff they love, and delight in dancing on the graves of anyone whose film has flopped… It is all so sad.”

Looking ahead to the new year, he said: “Unfortunately, so far 2024 looks to be even worse.

George RR Martin
George RR Martin (Getty Images)

“There is war everywhere. Ukraine and Gaza dominate the news, but there is a war in Myanmar as well that our western media just ignores, things are heating up in Yemen and the Red Sea, North Korea has nukes and is testing missiles and rattling sabres, Venezuela is threatening to annex three quarters of neighboring Guyana.”

This isn’t the first time Martin has reacted to “toxic” fan culture. In a 2022 interview with The Independent, he expressed confusion about “how people can come to hate so much something that they once loved”.

“If you don’t like a show, don’t watch it! How has everything become so toxic?” the author said.

In December, Martin confirmed his involvement with House of the Dragon, the prequel series to HBO’s juggernaut Game of Thrones adaptation, based on his bestselling book series.

That same month, he was given an exclusive preview of the first two episodes of the show’s second season. “Powerful, emotional, gut-wrenching, heart-rending,” he told fans of the forthcoming installment.

Season two of House of the Dragon is expected to be released sometime this summer.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in