One of the things that makes pop stars so beloved by their fanbases is the parasocial relationship they share. An object of fandom presents a persona, one that is relatable, aspirational, or sometimes both; fans respond in turn with not just adoration, but the kind of love that only comes from believing that the pop star is speaking directly to them. It's an intoxicating mix—and one that Riot Games is deliberately encouraging with their bizarre new character: virtual pop singer, Seraphine.
Supposedly, the character was actually (with permission) based on a character designer’s actual SO, but TQBH she looks a lot more like Stephanie than the other woman.
And here’s the problem: Riot harboured this creep, and many other creeps. As far as I’ve concerned, they haven’t significantly changed as an institution to justify letting any of these allegations slide.
