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Jackie Cameron
Photo by Sarah Golder
When Netflix first released “Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes,” Twitter was flooded with tweets like “Ted Bundy would’ve killed me for sure he’d be like get in my van I’d be like okay daddy” and “am I the only one who thinks that Ted Bundy is so hot asf?” I was left with one thought — why on earth would you compliment a serial killer? I’m seriously concerned about social trends if it’s now a thing to be more focused on Bundy’s smile than the murders he committed.
Recent movies and shows centered around killers have gathered a following of people who think the main character should be recognized for their killer looks, not their killer abilities.
We shouldn’t idolize these people for their attractiveness or attempt to romanticize their actions. They’re murderers and that’s it.
The first episode of “Conversations with a Killer” stresses the fact that Bundy lured girls in with his charisma and supposed “normalcy” but this was only to highlight how his handsomeness helped his crime-committing — it wasn’t meant to be an appreciation episode for his blue eyes. Through his breezy chats about his college degree or the weather with police officers, it’s clear he was charming. Understanding his personableness is vital to understanding how he got away with his crimes, but calling him “sexy” is missing the point that he was a murdering psychopath who thought he could get away with it (delusional much?).
If Twitter users were trying to make a joke by complimenting Bundy, they obviously don’t understand the seriousness of the situation. Since we haven’t had a serial killer close to Bundy’s level in so long, we only see them in glorified movies like “My Friend Dahmer” and “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.” Both reinforce idolization of serial killers, creating the wrong image. The trailer for the latter uses upbeat music that’s more suited for a lighthearted family movie about a lost dog or a move to a small-town than a serial killer biopic.
Netflix even had to tweet out a reminder that “there are literally THOUSANDS of hot men on the service — almost all of whom are not convicted serial murderers.” Why does the world need reminding that you shouldn’t swipe right on a mass murderer? The combination of heavy media coverage and newspapers — 250 reporters from five continents covered Bundy’s trial — calling Bundy “intelligent” and “charming” turned him into a celebrity; he got a lot of fan mail while in prison. His affinity towards torturing vulnerable women seemed to make people view him as intriguing and exotic instead of cruel and inhumane.
According to Psychology Today, being fascinated by serial killers can be a guilty pleasure — their extreme brutality and unnatural behavior creates an intense curiosity about them. Their outbursts of violence are often incomprehensible, which leads to people wanting to truly understand what makes them tick. Seems like a classic rom com trope: girl wanting to understand the troubled boy. But when the troubled boy is a serial killer, I think he’s best left misunderstood, even if he looks like Tom Holland.
Maybe society feels the need to transform killers into crushes as a way to humanize them. If they’re just like one of the guys you think is cute at the gym, are they really someone who could murder you? And is it really so bad to watch a show or follow the trial of someone who doesn’t seem like they could wield a knife?
What people fail to remember when admiring Bundy are his victims — Lynda Ann Healy, Donna Gail Manson, Nancy Wilcox and over 30 more. This “cute” man bludgeoned and sexually assaulted girls. This “hot” man dumped blood-coated, dead bodies in his makeshift graveyard on Taylor Mountain. This “heartthrob” shoved a metal bar up Karen Sparks’ vagina.
But it’s not just Bundy the internet has the hots for. Joe Goldberg in the show “YOU,” played by Penn Badgley, is a bookstore clerk turned stalker. To him, it’s his responsibility to “look out for” his victim, Beck, even if that involves killing her ex or creepily watching her through her window.
It’s clear he’s psycho — so why are people trying to defend his actions? Millie Bobby Brown, star of “Stranger Things,” took to her Insta story to say “He’s not creepy, he’s in love with her” and then proceeded talk about how she knew he was a stalker but she supported him because he’s in love with Beck.
The argument that “love makes you blind” isn’t synonymous with “love makes you watch a girl through her window until three in the morning.” Love doesn’t take away the ability to gauge if murder is okay and killers shouldn’t get a freebie for being lovesick. Romanticizing his actions strips the scenario of its seriousness and creates a distraction from how dangerous he is.
In response to a tweet about how hot his character in “YOU” was, Badgeley had to remind fans: “But you’re supposed to see past my face TO the crazy sh*t! It’s the other way! The other wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyhhyyyyggg 🙂 .” Badgeley has the right idea — the audience should be looking past Joe’s good looks and to his toxic behavior.
Our current taste in men is worrisome. Badgley shouldn’t have to point out his character’s flaws. And Netflix shouldn’t have to advise viewers that Ted Bundy is off the market. These men fought, raped and stabbed. I think it’s time to look past the dimples and see the actual person — the killer.
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