Why Are People on Twitter Hating Butch Hartman, the Creator Behind Cartoons?

Butch Hartman, the creator of beloved animated series like Timmy Turner's Fairly OddParents, is a well-known figure in the animation industry. However, over the years, he has garnered a lot of backlash and criticism from fans on platforms like Twitter. This article delves into the reasons behind the anger and controversy surrounding Butch Hartman.

Ego and Bragging:

One of the main points of contention is Hartman's tendency to brag about his accomplishments. On platforms like YouTube and Pinterest, he often includes the phrase "I created your childhood" as part of his tagline. While it is not extremely egotistical, it does come across as a significant ego trip, which has not been well-received by viewers.

Podcast Controversies:

In a controversial incident, Hartman's podcast guest, Tara Strong (voice of Timmy Turner), revealed that Hartman jokingly told her she was responsible for the suicide of Mary Kay Bergman, the original voice of Timmy Turner in the Fairly OddParents pilot. This incident was particularly troubling because Mary Kay Bergman was found to have taken her own life, and Hartman's comments were insensitive and inappropriate.

Mental Health and Ethics:

Another major area of criticism is Hartman's stance on mental health and suicidal tendencies. In a speech, Hartman blamed modern media for the rise in suicide rates, stating that people should simply "get over it" since it was much easier to handle such issues in his younger days. This dismissive attitude towards mental health issues has been met with widespread criticism. Furthermore, Hartman and his wife, Julianne, were involved in a conference where they promoted the idea that prayer can cure various conditions, including autism, cancer, PTSD, and more. This has been seen as highly unethical and inappropriate.

Religious Promotions and Bias:

Hartman's religious affiliations have also come under scrutiny. He has promoted his Christian faith in a slightly obnoxious manner, such as claiming that people liked his cartoons because they "saw Jesus in them." He has faced criticism for his stance on the LGBTQ community, often ignoring the community and sometimes misgendering individuals. Additionally, he has been backed by several Christian organizations that are known for their strong anti-LGBTQ stance.

The OAXIS Scandal:

One of the most significant controversies involving Hartman is the OAXIS streaming service. In 2015, after leaving Nickelodeon, Hartman launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund OAXIS, a new streaming platform. The campaign reached its goal of $250,000, but things took a turn for the worse when a video was discovered promoting OAXIS to a Christian audience. In this video, Hartman made bold claims about modern media and suicide rates, which were unsettling and controversial.

Fans who supported the Kickstarter campaign were disappointed to learn that the platform was going to be a religion-based service, a fact that was not mentioned in the original campaign. Many felt deceived and claimed they would not have supported the campaign if they had known. While Hartman attempted to address the criticism with letters and video rants, the situation remained unresolved. The Kickstarter page has not been updated since January 2019, the Facebook page has had only one update in 2020, and the OAXIS webpage continues to show a "coming soon" message.

Conclusion:

The controversies surrounding Butch Hartman highlight the need for creators to be more mindful of their words and actions in the public eye. His constant bragging, insensitive remarks about mental health, and involvement in the OAXIS scandal have contributed to the anger and criticism from his fans. While Hartman has defended his actions, the lasting impact of these controversies remains a point of discussion in the animation industry.