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Ever wonder why toxic fanbases have become so prevalent?

Does it say

1. Actual toxic fans are a tiny, but vocal, minority
2. An excuse the creators can trot out as an excuse why a poor/mediocre product underperforms, or gets "review bombed"

?

Because I have assumed those two things since the lady ghostbusters failed not because of it being as shitty movie, but hoards of millions of sexist fans.

Yes.

In fact, it even goes further to point out that companies purposely do things to get criticism that they can then blame on "toxic fanbase". The creator of Picard even has a quote saying he did exactly that.