David Henrie Blasts 214 Depicted Rapes in Fantasy Franchise as Industry Propaganda Grows
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 20
David Henrie Blasts 214 Depicted Rapes in Fantasy Franchise as Industry Propaganda Grows
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 20
Summary
David Henrie said entertainment increasingly prioritizes ideological messaging and shock value over storytelling, arguing that when the message comes first, "it becomes propaganda."
Henrie tied that shift to fantasy and young-adult publishing, saying creators now equate maturity with explicit sex and violence and market graphic material to younger audiences.
He cited "A Court of Thorns and Roses," "Fourth Wing" and "Game of Thrones," noting the latter’s books portray 214 rapes across 117 named victims and arguing such content distracts from fantasy’s moral stakes.
Henrie said the answer is not simply more faith-based entertainment: Christian and conservative creators also need stronger writing, characters and world-building if they want audiences back.
Pointing to Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, he called for a new fantasy "golden age" that restores wonder, clear moral consequence and craftsmanship without glorifying darkness.
With fantasy dominating sales, are audiences truly rejecting explicit content, or is the massive success of romantasy proving the exact opposite?
Can modern creators achieve the billion-dollar success of classic fantasy without relying on the graphic shock value dominating today's streaming platforms?
As millions of new books flood the market, will the rising demand for clean fantasy finally dethrone today's darker, morally ambiguous bestsellers?