Lanterns has divided fans, largely due to its handling of Hal Jordan. While some have applauded a bold new approach to the character, others feel that Hal, essentially branded a racist and a failure in the show, has been unnecessarily torn down to build John Stewart up.
Last month, DC Studios Showcase: The Official Podcast host Frankey Smith was criticised for branding Hal a racist on social media. When a fan disagreed that the character is "canonically" racist, Smith dismissed them and suggested they go and watch something less complex like Paw Patrol.
Now, her co-host, Coy Jandreau, is coming under fire on social media for remarks made on the Reel Rejects Clips & Shorts and Reel Rejects YouTube pages.
Discussing Lanterns' detractors with Greg Alba and people they perceive as social media trolls in a video titled "Lanterns Be Really Exposing How Stupid Some People Are," Jandreau made a series of shocking remarks about how he feels towards some of the people he encounters online.
Talking about stepping away from social media after muting fans like those who had disagreed with Alba's take on Lanterns, he said, "I don't miss the feeling of doubting whether or not I'd save someone's life if they were drowning."
"Knowing this many people are dumb, I think about it sometimes, like, would I let someone die because they're probably an idiot? Maybe," Jandreau stated, later adding, "I don't want to have no faith in mankind, so I think it's better to mute... They can choke on their own tongues, dude; they're not worth living."
Other remarks included, "we're overpopulated" and "these people are cannon fodder, and that's what they want to be."
Regardless of whether Jandreau is specifically targeting Lanterns' haters, toxic fans, or social media idiots in general, these comments are likely to strike many people as a step too far. Everyone has dealt with someone awful on the internet at one time or another, but the host of the DC Studios Showcase: The Official Podcast talking about any people or fandom like this is not a good look for the DCU.
While the remarks weren't made on a DC Studios-associated channel, this and Smith's remarks raise a lot of uncomfortable questions about the people James Gunn and Peter Safran have representing an already-tarnished brand.
While Lanterns was touted as a ratings success by HBO, there's still no word on a Season 2 renewal. As a result, The People vs. Gorilla Grodd is the only DC Studios TV series in active production.