Why Angel Dust is Better Representation for Survivors and the "Community"

The Reality is Always more Nuanced than the Expectation.

Before praising this creator, I will mention I am not a Vivziepop fan; I won't die on any of her hills. I don't follow most of her work; I mildly enjoy "Hazbin Hotel," but only because of her character, Angel Dust (and the concept of the series, with us following a redemption story). To prove I'm not a blind sheep, I will first discuss my critiques of her series and writing. "Hazbin Hotel" would have been more enjoyable for me had she not used biblical elements such as the story of Creation and the fall of humanity (and had she not turned the devil into a "misguided dreamer" who loves humanity but is disappointed by them). Keeping the bible further away from the series would have hooked me far more for a battle between Heaven and Hell.

Furthermore, I'm not a fan of swearing pretending to be jokes; her humor is more crude than I like. I have a dry wit and like similar humor; I enjoy it when writers make you think about the joke (though, when Angel Dust makes these crude jokes, it makes sense for his character). When I have my characters swear, I feel it is more realistic for that type of character to swear (for example, I don't see too many criminals or lowlifes watching their mouths). Korban from Wicked Demons and The Warriors also has a dirty mouth with crude "jokes" because he's a literal demon born in Hell, and it makes sense for that character. Having (mostly) every character swear is a turn-off for me. It would make more sense if the Angels were unable to swear even if they want to (similar to the Good Place; having some eternal thing block their ability to swear to force them to say less harsh phrases than their intent), and Charlie is another character I would have refrained from letting swear because of her upbeat, naive, positive attitude. So, right off the bat, I have critiques about Vivziepop and her series. I am not a die-hard fan and can find fault with her work.

Vivziepop has faced much harsher criticism lately, especially regarding her character, Angel Dust. The criticisms She is facing aren't all fair.

Despite the controversy, Vivziepop has a good balance of providing a character who has experienced abuse interestingly and diversely. We should be open-minded when considering her portrayal and not make rash judgments. Angel Dust represents an underrepresented group in media, and it's refreshing to see him break boundaries and push stereotypes (which is my whole thing when I create my own stories). I wish the critics would consider this before making unfair conclusions about the character (and, in turn, about the creator).

I have seen things like: "He's a bad representation of the "queer" community." And why? No one has been able to give me a clear answer. We don't use the word "queer" here because our employees hate that word, and so do my friends. It's perfectly okay to say gay (not every gay, lesbian, or trans person is "queer"). The character is gay, and he's not trans, and Vivziepop isn't trying to "undermine transsexuals" with the character. Angel Dust is clearly an androgynous man; not every drag queen is trans, and this character is someone you can't put into a box. He doesn't fit a mold, and he isn't a tally-mark. Gay is not his personality! In fact, he is one of the better representations of the "community" than we have seen in most recent media.

Vivziepop and I would disagree on 90 percent of everything there is to talk about (but that's okay because disagreement doesn't equate to hate), but it's obvious we both want to show the world voices that don't get heard.

I don't know if she based Angel Dust on anyone in her life, but I get silly critiques like this for Caleb (our gay Catholic from Wicked Demons and The Warriors). People call Caleb a "bad representation" of a gay man, but the character derived from my best friend: a real gay, conservative Catholic. It's a shame that people tend to group individuals into categories, viewing gay as a personality trait or a hive-mind. It's more than that, and we should recognize that most depictions of gay or trans folks in modern media are one-dimensional, don't speak for most of the "community," and actually cause harm to the "community."

The other criticism that Vivziepop faces concerning her character Angel Dust revolves around the portrayal and handling of sexual assault. While this is a valid concern, not every "victim" will feel the same way. Different people respond to traumatic incidents differently. Just because the portrayal doesn't align with your situation or feelings doesn't mean it's not indicative of someone else's experiences. Claiming that no victim behaves like Angel Dust only serves to discredit the ones who do. Let's give Vivziepop the benefit of the doubt and allow for this diverse representation of abuse (and its survivors).

Despite what many may think, I firmly believe Vivziepop never intended for the portrayal of Angel Dust to romanticize or fetishize abuse. She's actually shedding light on an underrepresented topic in media. She's giving victims like Angel Dust-- who you usually don't see-- a voice. So, let's step away from judging and give her the benefit of the doubt. If it becomes clear her actual intent was different, I would be the first to admit I am wrong about her and her character. It would be hard to swallow because the intention seems so transparent, and she's just looking to raise awareness for victims of abuse, not romanticize it or fetishize it in any way. And just because fans of the series are romanticizing or fetishizing the abuse between Valentino and Angel Dust doesn't mean the creator of the series should carry the blame.

Let me paint a picture: what about the tomboy who believed she was tough and should be able to fight this man off, but she froze every time he came back? She wasn't feminine, so she didn't like crying; she felt weak when she did cry. So, she needed to take back control. She did all sorts of risky behavior and even started sleeping around and drinking (not even 18). When she finally told her parents because she couldn't take it anymore, it didn't stop her from making inappropriate jokes about what happened, just searching for control. My experience matters, too, and Angel Dust behaves similarly to how I was.

The way Angel Dust reacts to the abuse in "Hazbin Hotel" is realistic because it shows a wide range of behaviors that victims may display. While some victims may become withdrawn or fearful, Angel Dust instead becomes angry and lashes out (and it's important to note he doesn't show concern for himself but his friends instead, and he fears them falling into his cycle with Valentino (his abuser)). You can see how afraid Angel Dust is of Valentino, and when Valentino corners him, you can see his persona start to break. As mentioned earlier, he also uses humor as a coping mechanism to deal with the trauma he has been through. This reaction is realistic because it shows the complex nature of how different people respond to abuse. It's not a singular way of reacting, and Vivziepop has presented a very realistic portrayal of a different dynamic.

I haven't even covered the full scope of the abuse and reactions in this series. There is so much to talk about. Vivziepop shows Angel pushing boundaries because if the people he cares about abandon him because of this persona he displays, it would hurt less than if they abandoned him for him. There is too much to unpack in this series regarding the portrayal of Angel Dust and his "dark" situation.

It's important to understand that many people often think of victims of abuse singularly as people who grow reclusive and fearful after the trauma they've endured. I believe the critics aren't trying to discredit victims who behave like Angel Dust, but it's more uncommon in their worldview for someone to act like this. The reality is much more nuanced. Angel Dust showcases a more mixed range of reactions and coping mechanisms that many survivors of abuse may identify with; for example, his anger and defensive humor act as a way of dealing with the pain and the stress he's endured. Vivziepop captures this complexity expertly and gives us a more accurate and varied depiction of the effects of abuse on its victims.

It's valid to feel like this portrayal doesn't align with your experience, or you may feel like it's making fun of you. I emphasize that you are valid in your feelings. But remember that your experience is not the norm, and not everyone's situation is the same. Just because something doesn't fit the typical depiction or narrative doesn't mean it's "handled poorly." Let's give this depiction the space to exist and appreciate the effort taken to create it.