We spoke with Monia Ali, author of the Fandom Exile Substack, about how true crime is becoming more and more like a fandom. We talked about the difference between stans and fans, how fandoms go bad, and how we can all combat toxicity in true crime.

In new segment, True Crime Wave, we’ll be talking about issues endemic to true crime. At its best, true crime offers the audience a way to learn about stories of crime, social issues, legal realities, and the real human beings at the heart of cases. It can be educational and compassionate and cathartic and thoughtful and incisive, and it can help raise awareness of cases. Good true crime can show case all kinds of different perspectives. It can center journalism, advocacy, legal analysis, investigative approaches, the experiences of survivors or victims’ families, and more. That is all very good. But too often, we see true crime devolve. We have seen online mobs, harassment, conspiracy theories, ethics-washing, and more. True crime won’t get better on its own. We think talking about these things will help. 

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