Let’s Start Separating Penn Badgley From Joe Goldberg

Whether you know him as “the guy who played Dan Humphrey on Gossip Girl” or Joe Goldberg, Penn Badgley’s name has been all over the Internet— because fans are falling in love with this creeper character of his.

If you’ve seen the new Netflix thriller series, “You,” you know exactly what I’m talking about. The series, which originally aired on Lifetime in September, has been making a name for itself after its release on Netflix in late December.

Following the life of a twenty-something bookstore manager who becomes obsessed with a customer (and ya know, kills some people so nothing gets in between them), this show is sure to give you the creeps. However, despite its uncomfortable nature, fans can’t stop watching. In fact, fans seem to be falling in love with Joe Goldberg— and Badgley’s reaction is hilarious.

What do you think about fans glamorizing Badgley’s character? Should we be looking past his appearance and be utterly creeped out by his portrayal of the psychotic Joe Goldberg?

Easy answer: Yes.

Joe Goldberg shouldn’t be the attractive one. We should be more fixed on the facade he puts up when he’s with Beck and all of the murders and stalking that are tied to his name. Can we start separating Penn from Joe? Because one is adorable and one shouldn’t be.

Stay tuned for Season 2, where Badgley promises to use all of this romanticization as “motivation.” Motivation for what? Probably to be more disturbing than ever so that fans fall out of love with his character.

Keep an eye out for season 2— and for any Joe Goldbergs in your area.