While Rick and Morty is one of the most popular adult animation series currently running, with a number of comic book spin-offs providing even more Rick and Morty content, some fans of the series have spoiled the fun, proving toxic in of misguided elitism. Elitism based on a grasp of basic aspects of science fiction and non-conventional humor is one thing, but actions carried out by fans in the real world is alarming–something even Rick and Morty its is true.
The most recent example of Rick and Morty having a real world impact on its fans came when McDonald’s re-released Szechuan Sauce after it was featured in the first episode of Rick and Morty season 3. Since it was just a one-day promotion done for fun because of the beloved show, McDonald’s restaurants quickly ran out of the sauce, leading to a number of reports and social media videos of fans being aggressive with employees–throwing giant fits because they didn’t get the sauce Rick told them to try.
In Rick and Morty: Corporate Assets #4 by James Asmus and Jarrett Williams, Morty has unwittingly signed over his and Rick’s life rights to an intergalactic corporation that subsequently floods the market with Rick and Morty content and merchandise. In this issue, Rick and Morty became their own fictional counterparts after being trapped in a Rick and Morty comic book. In an effort to escape, Rick uses his influence from the fictional world to create a social media challenge known as the 'Rick and Morty Challenge.' The parameters of the challenge are to buy Rick and Morty glow sticks, crack them open, and drink the fluid inside, then post the video on social media. Little do fans know, the fluid is actually portal fluid to create an exit for Rick and Morty. Unfortunately, the portal's creation completely rips the fan apart from the inside... but Rick doesn’t seem to care too much about that aspect of his plan.
In this story, Rick literally counts on the fact that his real-world fans will do whatever stupid thing he says just because he says to, and his efforts seem to pay off immediately. When Rick tells his fans to drink glow stick fluid because doing so would prove that they are true fans, they don’t hesitate and are killed because of it. While real life Rick and Morty fans aren’t having portals being formed in their stomachs, they are creating real-world negative impacts from a cartoon that is supposed to be enjoyed–not used as a measurement for one’s intelligence or as an excuse to berate people just trying to do their jobs.
With each ing season and comic series, Rick and Morty has proven to be one of the funniest and overall entertaining series in recent memory with hilarious takes on existentialism and interesting concepts regarding string theory. Rick and Morty is fun and should be enjoyed by anyone mature enough to watch or read it, but no one thinks someone is smart because they watch Rick and Morty, including Rick and Morty as even the series itself has called out how toxic a portion of its fan base can be.
