Jeremy Renner shuts down fan app after extreme trolling
Today marks a dark and dismal Rennsday for fans of actor, singer, Jeep partner, and Amazon Store owner Jeremy Renner.
On Wednesday, the actor known for playing Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films announced to the many superfans who downloaded his personal app — Jeremy Renner Official — that after recent criticism, and an unfortunate issue with trolls, he will be taking his app down. The app's lack of verification system made it difficult to differentiate real users from trolls, especially those impersonating Renner, leading to a chaotic experience.
Renner broke the news to users of the free app (including myself) by sending a notification and then posting a longer (seemingly un-edited) explanation.
"Goodbye ... The app has jumped the shark. Literally. Due to individuals that were able to manipulate ways to impersonate me and others within the app I have asked ESCAPEX, the company the runs this app to shut it down immediately and refund anyone who has purchased any stars over the last 90 days," Renner wrote to his fans.
"What was supposed to be a place for fans to connect with each other has turned into a place that is everything I detest and can't or won't condone," Renner went on.
"My sincere apologies for this to have not turned out the way it was intended. To all the super-fans who have supported me with your words or encouragement, amazing art, stories and time shared on the app, a genuine THANK YOU and I hope to see you on Instagram, Twitter, Youtube and Facebook," Renner concluded.
Renner launched the unique app in 2017 as a way to "connect directly" with fans around the world in a "shared environment," according to the Hollywood Reporter. It links to his Spotify music, fan website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube accounts, but it also provides a feed for Renner to share exclusive photos, videos, and interactions with the app's users.
Upon news that the app would be shut down, users expressed their genuine disappointment in the comments section of Renner's post.
The end of an era.
Topics Apps & Software Celebrities
Nicole is a Senior Editor at Mashable. She primarily covers entertainment and digital culture trends, and in her free time she can be found watching TV, sending voice notes, or going viral on Twitter for admiring knitwear. You can follow her on Twitter @nicolemichele5.
