Whether you like it or not, Death Note isn't going away from Netflix anytime soon. However, it does look like fans might have pushed the live-action film's director away from Twitter.
If you check out Adam Wingard's Twitter, well - you won't see it any more. The director's account shows up blank if you try to search it these days, and the abrupt deletion follows an on-and-off feud Wingard had with fans about Death Note. The film, which is based off a titular manga and anime, hit Netflix last month to mixed reviews. However, it seems harassment may have led to Wingard's abrupt exit from Twitter.
Anime fans may already be familiar with the spat netizens had with the Death Note director. Many otakus reached out to Wingard after his film debuted to lament the changes it made to Death Note. While some criticisms were constructive, others were more vitriol in nature. Wingard responded to many fans on Twitter, but a now-deleted tweet sent many begrudged netizens into a frenzy.
On August 26, Wingard posted a message online that read, "Sorry trolls but the artist always wins in the long run." The actor followed up the post with another message, writing, "I love how many people feel personally attacked by this tweet. Its [sic] almost like troll bait. Those that bit expose themselves."
The director posted other messages in regards to Death Note's online critiques. Wingard wrote, "Film criticism is different than b*tching at filmmakers on twitter." The director is right to differentiate film criticism from troll-induced hate, but the discordance between Wingard and the fans who'd hoped Death Note got it right was painful to see.
Wingard did not give fans warning before he deleted his Twitter, but fans are speculating the director did so in light of incoming death threats. It's one thing to be upset with a film and another to wish harm to someone because of your personal dissatisfaction. Death Note was not be the live-action anime adaptation fans had hoped for, and some fans took that as permission to attack Wingard who retaliated back.
In light of Wingard's social media exit, fans have taken to Twitter to look back on the events leading to the director's leave. You can check out some of the fandom's discourse below:
Faisal Hashmi
A person is a person. A life is a life. No movie should ever become a big enough issue that it's worth threatening someone over.
Schlock Horror
Clearly, this fan has strong opinions about the fans who plagued Wingard on social media. Netflix might rethink making any more live-action anime after this.
Isaacs Haunted Beard
With a 41% on Rotten Tomatoes, there seem to be more people against Death Note than for it. However, that number shouldn't translate to the amount of people who are for or against Wingard himself.
Albert Muller
You may not like Death Note, but there is a point where criticisms and complaints stop being that and transform into spewed hate.
Hellius Breadhouse
How about fans just - don't? They just don't send death threats to anyone ever?