I totally get this. And then the flipside, the fans the fawn over the villains with tragic backstories. Like, sure he was abused by his parents but he still killed like a hundred people.
While I do not fangirl over the villains to that point, I am fascinated by their minds and how they came to be how they are. I might find them fascinating, intriguing and so on but I would never approve or condone their actions.
Two of my favorite characters of all time are Madara and Itachi Uchiha (that hair...). They both had ****** lives as children soldiers more than most did and went down too many rabbit holes when their life was repeatedly screwed over. Ignoring the fact that the creator was God modding the clan they came from (which is an entirely different dark side of fandom which is won't be touching), both of them reacted differently.
Madara chose the straight up omnicidal maniac route while Itachi managed to be one of the most loyal and decent enemies in the entire series...And still kills people and remains a criminal for many.
Just because I can understand and to a part sympathize with their lives, does not mean I accept what they did and how they acted as a good thing. A fact many people in that fandom gloss over.
They're referring to the phenomena known as "
Draco In Leather Pants." And you kind of have a point.
You forgot the phenomena known as Ron the Death Eater. Just thought I should mention that if you are bringing in Draco in Leather Pants.
Honestly, I really hate that side of the fandom. I love alternative interpretation of characters, but that is a corruption worse than any plague or blight. It insults the characters, the author, the fanfiction writer and the readers. Most of these stories are mind-numbing, pointless and actually hurts to read. Almost to the point of the infamous My Immortal...
I like reading gray or dark interpretations for characters from different fandoms, but I also love it when it makes sense for the plot and reasoning.
Sorry for venting... This stuff always gets me.