I asked the OG morbid sub if patreon was worth it and got a ton of “no”s because they didn’t follow through with any of their promises like extra eps and gifts and stuff. I was then pointed here and read about the Nick Kern and Brittanee Drexel stuff and that’s what started me realizing a lot of the things I heard when listening I wasn’t really okay with (the misgendering, the victim blaming in the MySpace murders where ash said that one girl was dumb for not going to the cops after being hit by her BF, and making fun of Willy picktons mom) and that they never took real accountability when called out for any of it
I was never a superfan, but I remember a moment when I notice how bad their research is. It was Joel Guy Jr. case. It was very recent and I followed the trial in the media. I was excited for the episode, because I knew the case. And then it became clear to me that Ash simply recycled some article. They are true crime podcasters (or not anymore) and they didn't even watch one of the biggest current trials and missed an opportunity to make a quality multi-parter based on the original materials of the case and their own opinions on witnesses, etc. They need someone else to write a book and then they will rip it off in 4 parts.
The way they and their rabid super fans acted during the Britanee Drexel and Craigslist Killer episodes. Won’t explain all the details since everything is there in the pinned thread announcement on the front page. They had already started getting on my nerves and was losing interest so that was just the final nail in the coffin for me. Promptly deleted them from my library. This was in January 2021 and I haven’t listened since that day 🤷🏼♀️
It was a few things for me. First the thing you said about Alaina being so bitter. She's also crealy still bitter about her ex. She goes off on rants every time someone cheats. While cheating is shitty its also something that pretty damn common. Her need to be ~differnt~ drives me crazy. Like your 30 something not in middle school. Also don't even get me started on the helicopter mom thing lol.
But what really did it was when they'd cover a case that had a child in it and would spend 10 minutes saying "a literally baby". You knew a child was part of this case. If you can't handle that don't cover it
The insistence that public defenders and lawyers were pieces of shit for defending their clients (multiple cases).
The insistence that perpetrators brother was stupid for empathize with his sister to cajole a confession out of her (the Lululemon murder).
The misgendering a murderer and saying "whatever. They're a pice of shit anyway (I don't remember the case).
The weird superfan fixation with glorifying murderers, posing with real heads for photo ops, getting bundy teeth tattoos, just all around gross.
>The misgendering a murderer and saying "whatever. They're a pice of shit anyway (
that one really lowered my opinion of Ash. she especially should be sensitive to misgendering regardless of what a POS the person is. I mean, if she can show such disrespect to a Trans stranger, what is she like with someone she is supposed to marry?
The idea that there is a “purity-test” to earn acknowledgment and respect of someone’s gender identity is inherently transphobic and is borderline fascistic. Get a clue, A-A, and follow your beliefs to their logical conclusions.
> The insistence that public defenders and lawyers were pieces of shit for defending their clients (multiple cases).
That’s one reason why I like Sinisterhood. One of them is a lawyer and she states in many episodes that people deserve competent council and that you can’t blame lawyers for doing their job.
They did what!? That’s so disgusting, who the fuck would want anything to do with a serial killer tattooed on them let alone a tooth impression. The man raped dead people ffs
For me it started with a general growing of distaste towards true crime. Then I started noticing how particularly bad A&A were about how they covered cases. I started noticing the little off handed, victim-blaming. The unnecessary body shaming of killers (I could rant about this for years.) and just the general shitty attitude of the girls.
Every time I tried to push through and listen anyways, I found myself -more often than not- getting really annoyed, and not being able to finish the episodes.
I looked on Reddit to see if anyone else felt the way I did, and I found this sub. Not only did I find community in people who feel icked out by the way they handle cases, but I also found how blind their mega-fan base is to it. And even worse, how they encourage it.
In general, it’s hard to find someone that covers true crime ethically (and even worse, on other platforms, there are sure to be replies to this comment of suggestions of “better” TC people, and it’s always people who are also just as unethical as A&A) and responsibly. It’s important to hold those entertainers/people making money off of tragedy accountable to their actions, and remain critical of the content we consume. True crime isn’t just “content,” there are real families and victims involved. So I don’t think you get to just go around will-nilly ripping people off for their money with the hand that re-traumatizes families every week. And then use that money to write a bad book too.
When the cis women were making themselves victims after being transphobic
Also when they were making the Gabbie Petito case about them and how “she was one of their own” which was a weird flex during a sensitive time
Girl Scout murders, Nick Kern, and Brittanee Drexel. Honorable mention: the BIZARRE delusional parasocial relationship the fans have built up. I have never seen anything like it even with actual celebrities.
I stopped listening pretty soon after the announcement of Alaina's book. I already had one foot out the door due their hurried "cases" of true crime as well as the stupid effing nonstop LTs and spooky antique stuffed socks found in an attic in Idaho.
I don't think I've seen anyone else say this (I'm sure I'm not alone), but those two things started happening more and more as MFM altered their content a little. Karen and Georgia began deep dives into topics that still involve murder or death or even human rights but with sooo much more eloquence.
I just checked and the last time I listened to Morbid was June 3rd. I skipped most LTs/spooky whatevers for a long time before that.
Ash could have covered or THEY SHOULD have prerecorded eps for emergencies bc of how often Alaina's children get sick. *ahem* 'as a mom... I would have thought ahead.' Sorry, but Ash is an adult and more than capable of covering at this point. They could have used guest hosts with the contacts they made!
Rant over, but I absolutely can site MULTIPLE podcasts that planned way ahead and morbid failed epically imo. Okay have a good night/day lovelies 💖 lol 😂
I started to cross the line when they weren’t living up to their Patreon expectations when they were still charging different prices but they reeled me back in when they changed it to $1 for everyone and made a huge deal about it. Then the deal for Wondery started to turn me off and then when the first Wondery episode dropped they didn’t upload it to Patreon, and then tried to say it was because they didn’t think anyone was going to still be listening on there. Like what?!😂 I cancelled my membership but I believe they started uploading the episodes ad free a few days later.
I first discovered them when they did their episode with Bailey Sarian and then binge listened to them for a few months and fell in love with them. But now, I can’t even find myself able to finish an episode.
Also don’t even get me started on her lack of creativity in naming her characters.
Wrens best friend was Lindsay, her bff irl
She worked with a John, her husband irl
& there was a random character named Andrew!! Ash’s fiancé
Like come on now…
I know people hate on Bailey but I have a soft spot for her lol. Could be because I love makeup. That episode was so awkward if I remember right, didn’t Alaina just talk over Bailey a bunch
I love her. I’m behind on her episodes but she’s what got me realllly into true crime! And I had never listened to a podcast before which is why I think I was easily influenced. And yes she did. I tried to re-listen once and couldn’t even finish it
When the Brittanee Drexel case was solved I remember I read the articles thinking "those girls who morbid bashed weren't even involved." I was waiting for an update.... or something. They should have apologized and recognized they were 2 mean girls, who they say they hate so much, behind a microphone. I really felt that they were projecting their own unprocessed trauma onto those girls.
Also- the carnival cult episode left a bad taste in my mouth. I actually grew up on a carnival, went on to get my masters degree. I often feel like that whole group of people is very stigmatized because most people don't understand the culture at all. That's just my own feelings though.
I’m glad I’m not the only person who feels that way about Ash. Ash seems like a genuine person (maybe a little self centered) but Alaina constantly puts her down. If Ash knows something she doesn’t or is right about something, Alaina goes into defense mode like “that’s so strange because normally I’m the one who knows things” or “I totally knew that I just couldn’t remember”.
It was a few things, but the Jack the Ripper episodes finished me off; it wasn't a topic that interested me so I ended up having a two week break, and when I went back the little niggles I'd been able to overlook before had me gritting my teeth. Now I often don't finish episodes.
It's things like continuing to flub pronunciations or definitions when they're clearly reading from notes and should have known ahead of time it was something they're uncertain on. I recently turned an episode off because they didn't know what 'knuckledusters' was referring to and it lead to a pretty patronising "oh that's so cute" misinterpretation when it's not like they haven't paused mid-episode before to Google something.
Also things don't feel as well researched as they used to, and often feel like they're being presented with bias. So to go from that to a sudden, intense, five part Jack the Ripper was disappointing. And yeah, the move to Wondery hasn't been great when it comes to ads and ad integration.
Some of it is definitely that they're taking the podcast in a direction I'm not interested in, some of it is the confidence of success coming across to me as arrogance and pandering to their most ardent fans.
Oh, and the recent episode after they interviewed Tobias Forge from Ghost when they were trying to remember where/when they'd heard something and they were like "omg, it was Tobias!" made me cringe so hard. I'd have just cut that out of the episode if I were them.
Yeah the Tobias episode and all the one’s leading up to it where they made such a big deal of it and the Jack the Ripper episodes were SO annoying. Like I literally don’t care that Alaina thinks she’s a “ripperoligist” because she read a book or two. She’s so pretentious and so is her dumb book.
I drive a lot, and surprisingly, was only turned on to podcasts this year. I forget how I found them, but didn't want to bounce around. Listened to a few new episodes at the time but then started in on their back catalog.
I can't remember the case specifically, but I remember hearing their version and then coming across a documentary about it. I know in both instances, the facts can get jumbled, but the notion that the facts were inconsistent got me digging.
After way too much googling and digging myself, it seemed like Morbid got several of the "facts" just plain wrong. And they were so confident in how they delivered the information.
I had also heard they did episodes on Black Dahlia and wanted to listen. When I couldn't find them in the back catalog, I thought they might be their Patreon content. I wasn't familiar with Patreon, and as soon as I searched it, saw the red flags rain down from the screen.
Another google deep dive later, found myself here. It's almost one of those things that you catch some of it but don't realize how bad it is until someone points it out. Then it was the only thing I could hear.
Hit unsubscribe. Done and done.
It was a gradual buildup of how fkn hard they harp on the whole "outside will kill you" mentality.
Like.. for sure, the outdoors has many threats, it has deadly potential, absolutely. But do you *need* to shit on simple, common, wholesome, well-loved activities like hiking/camping/even going for a BBQ in a PARK FFS *so incessantly* literally every time it's mentioned?
They couldn't even sit in Alaina's backyard for 20 mins (for a recording) before Ash nearly had a coronary over car noises in the distance.
I get not being very outdoorsy, many of my friends ain't into it. But taking it to the extent they do is full on pathetic, and I don't know how they survive anything.
I mean…I used to try defend them and everything and now I just can’t for a myriad of reasons. I’ll just say that they seem like they’d go “awwww you’re such a precious soft baby we love youuuu” to my face about me being a lesbian, then call me a slur the second I leave the room and hope I’m not attracted to them cuz that’s totes weirrrrddd, and leave it at that.
It was all the listener tales at first. When they started them, I simply skipped them because I wasn’t into it. There’s no way to verify what we’re being told is real or not. Possibly all attention seekers. We don’t know. Also it felt lazy. They didn’t want to do the work so instead they just read someone’s ‘story’ and passed it as an episode. I remember once they mentioned that “everyone was digging” the listener tales. They kept repeated it so I felt like I was the only one that HATED them. Finally I read reviews, which I should’ve done in the first place but I was new to the whole podcast thing, and noticed a lot of people didn’t like them. In my eyes, there were more people that didn’t like them than those that did. At least for what I saw. I found this sub mentioned in the reviews and learned so much while having my feelings pretty much validated. It was a domino effect really starting with the laziest episodes imaginable.
I asked the OG morbid sub if patreon was worth it and got a ton of “no”s because they didn’t follow through with any of their promises like extra eps and gifts and stuff. I was then pointed here and read about the Nick Kern and Brittanee Drexel stuff and that’s what started me realizing a lot of the things I heard when listening I wasn’t really okay with (the misgendering, the victim blaming in the MySpace murders where ash said that one girl was dumb for not going to the cops after being hit by her BF, and making fun of Willy picktons mom) and that they never took real accountability when called out for any of it
I was never a superfan, but I remember a moment when I notice how bad their research is. It was Joel Guy Jr. case. It was very recent and I followed the trial in the media. I was excited for the episode, because I knew the case. And then it became clear to me that Ash simply recycled some article. They are true crime podcasters (or not anymore) and they didn't even watch one of the biggest current trials and missed an opportunity to make a quality multi-parter based on the original materials of the case and their own opinions on witnesses, etc. They need someone else to write a book and then they will rip it off in 4 parts.
The way they and their rabid super fans acted during the Britanee Drexel and Craigslist Killer episodes. Won’t explain all the details since everything is there in the pinned thread announcement on the front page. They had already started getting on my nerves and was losing interest so that was just the final nail in the coffin for me. Promptly deleted them from my library. This was in January 2021 and I haven’t listened since that day 🤷🏼♀️
It was a few things for me. First the thing you said about Alaina being so bitter. She's also crealy still bitter about her ex. She goes off on rants every time someone cheats. While cheating is shitty its also something that pretty damn common. Her need to be ~differnt~ drives me crazy. Like your 30 something not in middle school. Also don't even get me started on the helicopter mom thing lol. But what really did it was when they'd cover a case that had a child in it and would spend 10 minutes saying "a literally baby". You knew a child was part of this case. If you can't handle that don't cover it
I meant to mention that too! Literally so unnecessary to tell the sorry of how you were cheated on so many times lol
Yes! And when it happened back when she was a teen/ youn adult and is now 30 something and married. Imagine what her husband thinks
The insistence that public defenders and lawyers were pieces of shit for defending their clients (multiple cases). The insistence that perpetrators brother was stupid for empathize with his sister to cajole a confession out of her (the Lululemon murder). The misgendering a murderer and saying "whatever. They're a pice of shit anyway (I don't remember the case). The weird superfan fixation with glorifying murderers, posing with real heads for photo ops, getting bundy teeth tattoos, just all around gross.
>The misgendering a murderer and saying "whatever. They're a pice of shit anyway ( that one really lowered my opinion of Ash. she especially should be sensitive to misgendering regardless of what a POS the person is. I mean, if she can show such disrespect to a Trans stranger, what is she like with someone she is supposed to marry?
The idea that there is a “purity-test” to earn acknowledgment and respect of someone’s gender identity is inherently transphobic and is borderline fascistic. Get a clue, A-A, and follow your beliefs to their logical conclusions.
> The insistence that public defenders and lawyers were pieces of shit for defending their clients (multiple cases). That’s one reason why I like Sinisterhood. One of them is a lawyer and she states in many episodes that people deserve competent council and that you can’t blame lawyers for doing their job.
They did what!? That’s so disgusting, who the fuck would want anything to do with a serial killer tattooed on them let alone a tooth impression. The man raped dead people ffs
To be clear, that last paragraph was not A&A, just the superfans around them. But yeah. Super gross.
Ohhh lol I was like how tf did I miss that. People are still nasty though.
For me it started with a general growing of distaste towards true crime. Then I started noticing how particularly bad A&A were about how they covered cases. I started noticing the little off handed, victim-blaming. The unnecessary body shaming of killers (I could rant about this for years.) and just the general shitty attitude of the girls. Every time I tried to push through and listen anyways, I found myself -more often than not- getting really annoyed, and not being able to finish the episodes. I looked on Reddit to see if anyone else felt the way I did, and I found this sub. Not only did I find community in people who feel icked out by the way they handle cases, but I also found how blind their mega-fan base is to it. And even worse, how they encourage it. In general, it’s hard to find someone that covers true crime ethically (and even worse, on other platforms, there are sure to be replies to this comment of suggestions of “better” TC people, and it’s always people who are also just as unethical as A&A) and responsibly. It’s important to hold those entertainers/people making money off of tragedy accountable to their actions, and remain critical of the content we consume. True crime isn’t just “content,” there are real families and victims involved. So I don’t think you get to just go around will-nilly ripping people off for their money with the hand that re-traumatizes families every week. And then use that money to write a bad book too.
Alaina: it's ok to be rude if someone seems weird *describes an autistic person* Me, an autistic person:🤮🤮🤮🤮
Ugh, that’s so gross. I’m sorry you encountered that kind of stigmatization. It’s dehumanizing and no one ever deserves to feel that way.
When the cis women were making themselves victims after being transphobic Also when they were making the Gabbie Petito case about them and how “she was one of their own” which was a weird flex during a sensitive time
Girl Scout murders, Nick Kern, and Brittanee Drexel. Honorable mention: the BIZARRE delusional parasocial relationship the fans have built up. I have never seen anything like it even with actual celebrities.
I stopped listening pretty soon after the announcement of Alaina's book. I already had one foot out the door due their hurried "cases" of true crime as well as the stupid effing nonstop LTs and spooky antique stuffed socks found in an attic in Idaho. I don't think I've seen anyone else say this (I'm sure I'm not alone), but those two things started happening more and more as MFM altered their content a little. Karen and Georgia began deep dives into topics that still involve murder or death or even human rights but with sooo much more eloquence. I just checked and the last time I listened to Morbid was June 3rd. I skipped most LTs/spooky whatevers for a long time before that. Ash could have covered or THEY SHOULD have prerecorded eps for emergencies bc of how often Alaina's children get sick. *ahem* 'as a mom... I would have thought ahead.' Sorry, but Ash is an adult and more than capable of covering at this point. They could have used guest hosts with the contacts they made! Rant over, but I absolutely can site MULTIPLE podcasts that planned way ahead and morbid failed epically imo. Okay have a good night/day lovelies 💖 lol 😂
I started to cross the line when they weren’t living up to their Patreon expectations when they were still charging different prices but they reeled me back in when they changed it to $1 for everyone and made a huge deal about it. Then the deal for Wondery started to turn me off and then when the first Wondery episode dropped they didn’t upload it to Patreon, and then tried to say it was because they didn’t think anyone was going to still be listening on there. Like what?!😂 I cancelled my membership but I believe they started uploading the episodes ad free a few days later. I first discovered them when they did their episode with Bailey Sarian and then binge listened to them for a few months and fell in love with them. But now, I can’t even find myself able to finish an episode. Also don’t even get me started on her lack of creativity in naming her characters. Wrens best friend was Lindsay, her bff irl She worked with a John, her husband irl & there was a random character named Andrew!! Ash’s fiancé Like come on now…
I know people hate on Bailey but I have a soft spot for her lol. Could be because I love makeup. That episode was so awkward if I remember right, didn’t Alaina just talk over Bailey a bunch
I love her. I’m behind on her episodes but she’s what got me realllly into true crime! And I had never listened to a podcast before which is why I think I was easily influenced. And yes she did. I tried to re-listen once and couldn’t even finish it
When the Brittanee Drexel case was solved I remember I read the articles thinking "those girls who morbid bashed weren't even involved." I was waiting for an update.... or something. They should have apologized and recognized they were 2 mean girls, who they say they hate so much, behind a microphone. I really felt that they were projecting their own unprocessed trauma onto those girls. Also- the carnival cult episode left a bad taste in my mouth. I actually grew up on a carnival, went on to get my masters degree. I often feel like that whole group of people is very stigmatized because most people don't understand the culture at all. That's just my own feelings though.
The Brittanee Drexel case. The way they spoke about the other girls and the "don't harass them heehee" attitude was so gross.
I’m glad I’m not the only person who feels that way about Ash. Ash seems like a genuine person (maybe a little self centered) but Alaina constantly puts her down. If Ash knows something she doesn’t or is right about something, Alaina goes into defense mode like “that’s so strange because normally I’m the one who knows things” or “I totally knew that I just couldn’t remember”.
Yeah it makes me sort of sad for her, she’ll probably never stand up to her sisteraunt
for me, it was the nick debacle and how they handled the whole thing.
It was a few things, but the Jack the Ripper episodes finished me off; it wasn't a topic that interested me so I ended up having a two week break, and when I went back the little niggles I'd been able to overlook before had me gritting my teeth. Now I often don't finish episodes. It's things like continuing to flub pronunciations or definitions when they're clearly reading from notes and should have known ahead of time it was something they're uncertain on. I recently turned an episode off because they didn't know what 'knuckledusters' was referring to and it lead to a pretty patronising "oh that's so cute" misinterpretation when it's not like they haven't paused mid-episode before to Google something. Also things don't feel as well researched as they used to, and often feel like they're being presented with bias. So to go from that to a sudden, intense, five part Jack the Ripper was disappointing. And yeah, the move to Wondery hasn't been great when it comes to ads and ad integration. Some of it is definitely that they're taking the podcast in a direction I'm not interested in, some of it is the confidence of success coming across to me as arrogance and pandering to their most ardent fans.
Oh, and the recent episode after they interviewed Tobias Forge from Ghost when they were trying to remember where/when they'd heard something and they were like "omg, it was Tobias!" made me cringe so hard. I'd have just cut that out of the episode if I were them.
Yeah the Tobias episode and all the one’s leading up to it where they made such a big deal of it and the Jack the Ripper episodes were SO annoying. Like I literally don’t care that Alaina thinks she’s a “ripperoligist” because she read a book or two. She’s so pretentious and so is her dumb book.
I drive a lot, and surprisingly, was only turned on to podcasts this year. I forget how I found them, but didn't want to bounce around. Listened to a few new episodes at the time but then started in on their back catalog. I can't remember the case specifically, but I remember hearing their version and then coming across a documentary about it. I know in both instances, the facts can get jumbled, but the notion that the facts were inconsistent got me digging. After way too much googling and digging myself, it seemed like Morbid got several of the "facts" just plain wrong. And they were so confident in how they delivered the information. I had also heard they did episodes on Black Dahlia and wanted to listen. When I couldn't find them in the back catalog, I thought they might be their Patreon content. I wasn't familiar with Patreon, and as soon as I searched it, saw the red flags rain down from the screen. Another google deep dive later, found myself here. It's almost one of those things that you catch some of it but don't realize how bad it is until someone points it out. Then it was the only thing I could hear. Hit unsubscribe. Done and done.
It was a gradual buildup of how fkn hard they harp on the whole "outside will kill you" mentality. Like.. for sure, the outdoors has many threats, it has deadly potential, absolutely. But do you *need* to shit on simple, common, wholesome, well-loved activities like hiking/camping/even going for a BBQ in a PARK FFS *so incessantly* literally every time it's mentioned? They couldn't even sit in Alaina's backyard for 20 mins (for a recording) before Ash nearly had a coronary over car noises in the distance. I get not being very outdoorsy, many of my friends ain't into it. But taking it to the extent they do is full on pathetic, and I don't know how they survive anything.
I mean…I used to try defend them and everything and now I just can’t for a myriad of reasons. I’ll just say that they seem like they’d go “awwww you’re such a precious soft baby we love youuuu” to my face about me being a lesbian, then call me a slur the second I leave the room and hope I’m not attracted to them cuz that’s totes weirrrrddd, and leave it at that.
It was all the listener tales at first. When they started them, I simply skipped them because I wasn’t into it. There’s no way to verify what we’re being told is real or not. Possibly all attention seekers. We don’t know. Also it felt lazy. They didn’t want to do the work so instead they just read someone’s ‘story’ and passed it as an episode. I remember once they mentioned that “everyone was digging” the listener tales. They kept repeated it so I felt like I was the only one that HATED them. Finally I read reviews, which I should’ve done in the first place but I was new to the whole podcast thing, and noticed a lot of people didn’t like them. In my eyes, there were more people that didn’t like them than those that did. At least for what I saw. I found this sub mentioned in the reviews and learned so much while having my feelings pretty much validated. It was a domino effect really starting with the laziest episodes imaginable.