Russell T. Davies, the brilliant mind behind Doctor Who, recently issued a stark warning, labeling X a “hate site” for fandoms and urging audiences to be wary of the toxic echo chamber it creates. He really pulled no punches during a masterclass at Series Mania in France, laying out his concerns about how easily online hostility can be mistaken for the genuine voice of a show’s fanbase.
According to Variety, Davies, who is a massive Doctor Who fan himself, knows a thing or two about the passion and occasional vitriol that comes with a beloved franchise. He made it clear that the “online voice, which is hostile, exists on X, which is a hate site.” It’s a tough truth to hear, but he pointed out that we “shouldn’t be surprised to find hatred on it, because it’s a hate site.”
What’s particularly dangerous, he explained, is when this loud, negative online chatter is “very dangerously assumed that that is the fan voice.” Davies makes a sound argument when he implies that it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that a vocal minority online represents everyone.
His biggest grouse is with negativity getting legitimized via platforms like X
Davies described true fandom as “creative and brilliant and fun,” but noted that “it’s all getting soured” by the negativity amplified on platforms like X. He isn’t new to dealing with online backlash, especially when it comes to Doctor Who. The show’s most recent run, for example, saw Ncuti Gatwa step into the iconic role as the first openly queer Black actor. Sadly, this groundbreaking casting was met with a wave of racist and homophobic comments online.
Davies highlighted how platforms like X, combined with what he called “the collapse of journalism,” have allowed these hateful voices to seep into the mainstream. His concern is that “the danger point happens of the minority voices slipping more into the mainstream, because suddenly they’re in newspaper articles, suddenly you find critics quoting those voices.”
While Davies acknowledges that fans don’t have to love every single aspect of a show, he believes there’s a respectful way to disagree. You can still “have a great time disagreeing” without resorting to toxicity. He’s so passionate about protecting younger audiences from this online environment that he even suggested, “Turn those phones off for anyone under 16, chuck them in the bin. I literally am evangelical about it.”
There’s been some chatter about Doctor Who’s future. Disney+ recently ended its partnership with the BBC after two co-produced seasons. There is a Christmas special confirmed for this year, but Davies has remained tight-lipped about what comes next or who will be taking on the title role long-term. The finale of the most recent season saw Gatwa’s departure as the Doctor, with Billie Piper, who famously played companion Rose Tyler, making a return.
While Gatwa’s Doctor did regenerate into Piper, it wasn’t explicitly stated that she’s the next Doctor. When pressed by moderator Renan Cros during the masterclass for more details, Davies wouldn’t budge, simply saying, “I just love Billie, that’s all!”
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