Tesla’s problem with the toxic fandom is starting to give the community a bad name as some stories of attacks on other electric vehicles become popular.
O Detroit Free Press published a new article today entitled: “Tesla owner with Mustang Mach-E reports social media threats from Tesla fans.”
Includes several reports from owners and reviewers of new Mustang Mach-E who have received disturbing comments from Tesla fans about their assessment of the new electric vehicle:
“” One was, like, ‘I hope the car gets out of control and crashes.’ Or ‘The car will catch on fire when you’re driving,’ ”he said. “I took that as a threat. For you to have some kind of ill will towards someone, why would you say that? Then someone sent me a message in particular: ‘You are full of shit and I know what your Tesla is like. If I see … ‘That private message on Facebook was more threatening. ””
Most of the comments came from the same known Tesla fans on Facebook and Twitter.
Some of these positive reviews from Mach-E came from Tesla owners and fans who were disappointed by the community’s response:
“Before I knew it, about 65% of the comments were just criticizing me,” he said. “Part of me wants to get rid of my Tesla just so I don’t have the association. A couple here and there, OK. But people are commenting and saying disgusting things. – Did you let the big oil buy you? and ‘How much are people paying you?’ If this is what is associated with being a Tesla owner, why do I want to be part of that group? Is not cool. “
In some of the most extreme cases, people reported having received death threats for positive comments about the Mustang Mach-E.
Electrek’s Take
Last year, we posted a controversial article entitled “Tesla superfandom becomes toxic, negative for the electrical revolution”.
He explored the problem with the rise of a group of Tesla superfans who are creating a toxic environment by trying to suppress legitimate criticism of Tesla, attack positive perspectives on other electric vehicles and spread misinformation if they put Tesla in a positive light.
Our article tried to highlight the problem within the community before it became too big and affected the Tesla community’s reputation.
But now the mainstream media is realizing it. This is exactly what we were trying to avoid.
To be fair, it looks like the Free press the article was directed by Mike Levine, Ford’s North American communications manager, who also had a combative attitude against Tesla.
To update: Levine says he had nothing to do with the article and was not just quoted for his comment to one of the owners of Mach-E who was the target of Tesla fans.
I think it’s worth mentioning, but by no means excuse some of the comments from those Tesla superfans.
There is simply no excuse for that.
I am also a big Tesla fan. I have shares in the company. I own three Tesla vehicles that I love, but I agree that Tesla is not perfect and there is a lot of legitimate criticism against the automaker and its vehicles.
I can also appreciate other electric vehicles that are really part of Tesla’s mission to accelerate the transition of the electric vehicle.
I know where they are coming from. The media has always promoted the idea that all new EVs from old car manufacturers were “Tesla killers”.
This created a hostile outlook for other EVs, but we know that this outlook is false and was created only by the media.
Two mistakes don’t make one right, and the Tesla community needs to drown out the comments of these toxic superfans with more encouraging comments for automakers who are taking the electric transition seriously and for people who are using these electric vehicles.
It’s fair to compare EVs to each other, but I beg Tesla fans not to be on the defensive when someone favorably compares another EV to a Tesla vehicle.
Instead, be happy because they like a fully electric vehicle. Tesla will be fine anyway.
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