Supernatural vs. Beliebers

Event
Event:	Fans of the TV show Supernatural and fans of singer Justin Bieber clash after a tweet made by actor Jared Padelecki
Participants:	Supernatural fans, Beliebers
Date(s):	January 2014
Type:	Fan War
Fandom:	Supernatural and the Beliebers
URL:
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The Supernatural vs. Beliebers fan war was a conflict between fans of the television show Supernatural and fans of singer Justin Bieber, which was prompted by a tweet Jared Padelecki (actor who portrayed Sam Winchester) made at Justin. Angry Beliebers called for a boycott of Supernatural, which was airing its 9th Season. Thus, the two groups of fans started to feud on platforms such as tumblr and twitter, with Supernatural fans on tumblr specifically rallying both their own community as well as other fandoms to participate in mass-watching the next episode of the show. Needless to say, the boycott was not successful (and it is unclear how much overlap there would have even been between the two groups in the first place).

The Inciting Incident

On January 14, 2014, Justin Bieber became involved in a scandal known as "Egg-Gate" that resulted in police raiding his home in Calabasas, California in order to try and connect Bieber to the egging of a neighbor's house that occurred on January 9th. During the raid, police discovered cocaine and arrested rapper Lil Za, who was a guest at Bieber's residence, for the possession of the drug.

That same afternoon, Jared Padelecki-- actor best known for his portrayal of Sam Winchester on Supernatural-- tweeted in reference to the event.

Hey @justinbieber, how much are you paying your friend for pretending that it was HIS cocaine, and taking the fall for you?

@jarpad on Twitter https://x.com/jarpad/status/423201717220429824?mx=2

Bieber did not publicly react to the tweet. And, it is unknown if he was even aware of this entire event.

The Fandoms Clash

In response to Padelecki's tweet, angry Beliebers are said to have reacted negatively. It is important to note that most of the surviving primary sources appear to focus on the Supernatural fandom instead of the actions of the Beliebers, which indicates that the Supernatural fandom's reaction might have eclipsed angry Believer comments. Regardless, sources seem to agree that the Beliebers decided boycott Supernatural by not watching it, with potentially the goal of getting it cancelled. As contemporary commentators did indicate, this plan was faulty as many were skeptical about the potential overlap between the two fan communities, let alone enough to create a difference in the ratings. Still, the Supernatural fandom started to respond en masse to the threat.

A tumblr user with the url my-tardis-sense-is-tingling posted a call for all fandoms to band together to fight the boycott by tuning into the next episode of Supernatural (Season 9, Episode 11, "First Born"), which was set to air on January 21, 2014. On the post, OP included a gif from the show with dialogue from the show altered to read "I want the world to know exactly what the Supernatural fans are capable of".

TO FIGHT THE BELIEBERS’ “SUPERNATURAL BOYCOTT” I AM OFFICIALLY ASKING EVERYONE NO MATTER WHAT FANDOM THEY ARE IN TO WATCH SUPERNATURAL THIS TUESDAY AT 9/8c. HOPEFULLY WE CAN GIVE THE SHOW RATINGS BOOST INSTEAD. PLEASE PASS THIS ON!!

my-tardis-sense-is-tingling, January 2014 https://space-inspector.tumblr.com/post/73675489196/to-fight-the-beliebers-supernatural-boycott-i

Many fandoms on tumblr rallied around the Supernatural fans, united by a shared dislike of Justin Bieber and his fans. Some went as far to frame this as a fight between fandoms and the Beliebers. Interestingly, this indicates that the tumblr fans did not view the fandom of a popular musician as being in the same category as their own media fandoms.

The fandom squabbles continued over the next several days. On January 17, 2014, Padelecki responded to the situation in a media interview, stating, ""Listen, I have a world full of 12-year-olds trying to kill me. So watch my back! We have people watching around for Beliebers."

Interestingly, Supernatural had earlier in the season had a character by the name of Corey who was clearly an homage to Justin Bieber in the 10th Episode ("Road Trip"). On January 15th, Jared claimed on Twitter that Corey was meant to mock Bieber before the fan communities started their feud.

The Supernatural fandom's efforts in increasing the viewership of their show was evidently so successful that the episode that aired on the 21st had the highest ratings the show had seen since Season 5 was airing in 2010. Many Supernatural fans took to the internet to rejoice in declaring a decisive victory over the Beliebers.

On January 22nd, Misha Collins-- another Supernatural actor-- took to Twitter to joke about the situation, sarcastically posting "The Belieber boycott of #supernatural devastated viewership last night. Lesson learned: don't mess with @justinbieber". Padelecki also commented in mockery of the failed boycott, writing "I'm SO sad to turn off the Beliebers.... However, at a maximum justifiable age of 7, they should be in bed right now. #Supernatural".

In 2019, some five years after the feud, Jared was quoted as saying that he would like to fight Justin Bieber in a UFC match.

Commentary

Contemporary

Pro-Supernatural

This is amazing. I’m GLAD that Beiber and his little minions are pissed off. And I’m GLAD that they decided to do this stupid little boycott protesty thing. And I’m GLAD that Supernatural fans are pissed off over this. Because you know what?

SO IS EVERYONE ELSE.

This one little tweet has sparked a movement–no, A REVOLUTION–with all people around the world everywhere who has EVER been a fan of ANYTHING EVER. This is truly amazing. Sure, people are in more than one fandom. Sure, people have friends from other fandoms. Sure, we support other fandoms because we’re respectful like that.

But this is different.

This is a revolution in itself.

Because for the first time EVER, EVERY SINGLE FANDOM IN THE WORLD APART FROM THE BELIEBERS IS UNITED. Everyone is coming together, putting aside their differences and prejudice and grudges to stand up for and protect ONE SINGLE MEASLY LITTLE FANDOM, that is NOTHING in size compared to the world’s population. But that’s okay. Because all those other people who AREN’T in the Supernattural fandom are STILL on their side. So what if some of us aren’t fangirls of them? So what if we don’t quite understand the plot? So what if we don’t know that the show’s even about? So what if some of us have never even HEARD of Supernatural? SO WHAT?!? WE ARE STILL UNITED AS ONE!

THIS is what it means to be in a fandom. And not just specific fandoms, either. The fans of anime. The gamers, The bookworms. The TV addicts. The music-lovers. Everyone is fighting under one cause.

For the first time EVER, EVERYONE is united.

AND UNITED WE STAND, FOR FANDOMS WORLDWIDE AND FOR SUPERNATURAL.

But not for the Beliebers. They’re the reason this shit happened in the first place. Fuck you guys. Just because ONE actor of a TV show made a comment about your idol doesn’t mean that you have the right to attack that actor’s show and ITS ENTIRE BLOODY FANDOM. You’re obviously not true fans of anything, because true fans stick up for other fandoms no matter what.

Watch out, Beiber. The world is coming after you.

"This Supernatural Vs Beliebers thing is AMAZING" by aquailita, January 2014 https://aquailita.tumblr.com/post/73883326905/this-supernatural-vs-beliebers-thing-is-amazing

Beliebers: WE DECLARE WAR ON YOUR F**KING SUPERNATURAL FANDOM

Supernatual: [LAUGHS]

Doctor Who: [LAUGHS]

Sherlock: [LAUGHS]

Harry Potter: [LAUGHS]

Hunger Games: [LAUGHS]

Divergent: [LAUGHS]

Star Wars: [LAUGHS]

Star Trek: [LAUGHS]

Cumberb*tches: [LAUGHS]

Hiddlestoners: [LAUGHS]

Everyone: [LAUGHS]

Hannibal: [GRABS KNIVES]

A Few Hours Later

Hannibal: Needs salt.

Supernatural: We got you covered.

imsherwatchingyou, 20 January 2014 https://imsherwatchingyou.tumblr.com/post/73974623315/beliebers-vs-fandoms

Anyway, Bieber might have more fans, but Jared has crazier ones. Ones that think he's the anti-Christ possessed by Satan and they like it. Here be dragons, little Beliebers.

Lily_May, c. 2014 https://www.reddit.com/r/Supernatural/comments/1vufa6/comment/cew24m1/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

I'm not worried at all. Based on comments at the end of the article of Jared and this kid we are gonna gain fans. People that have never watched the show now want to. I love Jared even more after this, I gotta say.

Fight_the_faeries, c. 2014 https://www.reddit.com/r/fandomnatural/comments/1vgerm/have_you_guys_seen_the_tumblr_reactions_to_the/

I'm so glad this happened. I HATE when celebs pussyfoot around other celebs and their bad habits. Bieber has acted hideously on more than one occasion and the fact that other people in the spotlight are now commenting on this behavior really speaks volumes about how out of control he is.

Give a child money and no guidance and this is how it turns out.

Good for Jared.

jennythewicked, c. 2014 https://www.reddit.com/r/fandomnatural/comments/1vgerm/comment/cespd7v/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Okay, I don’t normally give a flying fuck about these sorts of things but 1) I don’t like Justin Bieber and 2) I like Supernatural.

First of all, Justin Bieber is a child, Jared Padalecki is a man. Jared Padalecki is kind, considerate, courageous and a little bit insane. Justin Bieber on the other hand, is a self-centred, conceited, arrogant, irresponsible little prick.

But, each to their own and obviously I prefer someone with a brain and a heart over a prick.

Now, I just want to ask the Supernatural fandom to not cause hell, to not make threats or enact violence against beliebers.

Because most ‘Beliebers’ or however the fuck you spell it are children. Most of them ain’t even allowed on this here website they’re that young.

So remember that when one of them insults Jared or the show. Don’t give them abuse. Be condascending, be patronising, be an adult to a bitchy child, but not give them verbal abuse.

We’re better than that.

We are the Crowley to their…whatever they are.

We are sarcastic.

We are sassy as hell.

We take no prisoners but we do so in style.

Also, we have the Hannibal, Sherlock, Doctor Who and like every other fandom on our side. We don’t need to worry about numbers.

taurquessir, 2014 https://charlie-minion.tumblr.com/post/73534381800/dykeadellic-swiggityswoociferiamlucifer

Critical of the Feud

The Supernatural vs. Beliebers fight is one the reasons I don’t tell people I have tumblr.

arequisite, c. 2014 https://arequisite.tumblr.com/post/74321597476/the-supernatural-vs-beliebers-fight-is-one-the

Not defending him at all but this entire thing is pretty silly. Why are people supporting this sort of behavior from a grown man? I love Jared and the in-show jokes are pretty funny but this is kind of disappointing to see.

deleted user, c. 2014 https://www.reddit.com/r/Supernatural/comments/1vufa6/comment/cewcez4/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

I find it hard to believe that this "boycott" will actually have any impact. I mean really, how many Supernatural fans are out there that are obsessed with Justin Beiber? If anything the show's view will go up because they are getting more publicity for this and supernatural fans will be more likely to go out of their way to watch in order to counter-act the beliebers.

goodwater42, c. 2014 https://www.reddit.com/r/Supernatural/comments/1vt2xo/comment/ceviz38/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

the whole thing with the beliebers made me really, really dislike the supernatural fandom.

for one, i think mr padalecki's comment was insensitive and offensive. and at best, just not fucking funny. apparently it was supposed to be a drag queen joke, in reference to the fact that it was a drag race mr bieber was arrested for, but it just came off as just another "bieber's a gurl lmao" joke, which are transphobic and not that funny. now, i'm not saying that this makes him a bad person. he seems like a nice guy, don't get me wrong. i'm just saying it was in ill taste, even if his intentions were something else. but you know, that's fine. everyone makes mistakes and says dumb shit. it's cool with me.

now, the beliebers took this a bit too much to heart, i think. they do that with most things. though i think they had a right to be offended, their plan of trying to get supernatural off the air by not watching it was, frankly, overkill.

but i honestly don't think the supernatural fandom should have fired back. most beliebers are ten or eleven, they're kind of known for doing shit like this. while it doesn't make it okay, it's indicative of their age. like, how many of you did dumb shit when you were twelve. a vast majority of those girls will turn sixteen, look back on their bieber phase, and shudder.

the people in the supernatural fandom are fifteen, sixteen. nineteen. twenty five. much, much older than the beliebers, and while the former's actions still aren't okay, it's again about their age and level of maturity. people in their late teens should not be reducing themselves down to that.

there were death threats sent from the supernatural side. there was anon hate. there were people going to iluvebieber blogs owned by ten year olds and sending them hate and spam and fuck knows what. and it wasn't even just supernatural. all of tumblr was involved. i am part of the homestuck fandom and i am ashamed to say some of my fellow homestucks took part as well.

i don't know how the beliebers fought. i am not one of them. but i honestly think it's disgusting that women of sixteen, twenty, twenty five were acting this way towards ten, eleven, twelve year olds. girls half, or two thirds, of their age.

you know the best part? the show was in no danger. these are fucking ten year olds, how many of them watched supernatural anyway? the vast majority were probably in bed before it came on. there is no way the ratings would have been affected by the movement. at worst, they would have dipped a little. but not enough to get the show off the air.

i just think everyone should have been the better people and left well enough alone.

Submission by joebidensgaybushome to the blog the-unpopular-opinions, 31 March 2014 https://the-unpopular-opinions.tumblr.com/post/81318698072/embed

i’ve seen a lot of stupid shit on the internet but the overreaction to this entire justin bieber and jared padalecki thing truly takes the cake i’m not sure there is way for me to physically care less about every part of this “scandal” and the amount of time that is being spend on it in the media is both darkly amusing in its absurdity but more than a little out of control at this point.

ssjdebusk 19 January 2014 https://ssjdebusk.tumblr.com/post/73817394940/jared-padalecki-and-justin-bieber

In Retrospect

Ten Years Ago This Week….

Jared Padalecki started some Twitter beef with Justin Bieber. ...

This led to Beliebers calling for a boycott of Supernatural, which was airing it’s 9th season at the time to diminishing views.

In response, the Supernatural Fandom (currently at the height of its power) called on every fan, former fan, and fellow nerd to tune in to that week’s episode (9.11, First Born) to collectively defend Jared and shove the Beliebers into a figurative locker by making their boycott night into a triumph. ...

Feel free to cringe.

The campaign was successful, and when the episode aired on 1/21/14 it became the most viewed episode of Supernatural since 2010, when the show’s 5th (and arguably best) season was airing.

A wacky time was had by all. This is yet another example of Supernatural having been an Unparalleled Media Experience.

Thank you for coming to history class today.

julesthequirky, 22 January 2024 https://julesthequirky.tumblr.com/post/740249848701485056

This incident highlighted the immense power of online fan groups and the intensity of fandom wars. It also sparked conversations around the impact that social media backlash could potentially have on television ratings. Despite the uproar, Supernatural's strong fanbase weathered the storm, and the show continued its successful run for several more seasons.

Joey Pedras (description on a video posted in 2014, though it appears to have been edited at a later date as it references further seasons) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ57quyCRtY

See Also

• "Beliebers VS Supernatural: How Television Ratings Work" by Joey Pedras (YouTube video; 21 January 2014)