Chapter 755: Rise of the Fans

"Anti-Cancer Me" was supposed to be just another modest comedy film, with an 8-million-yuan budget. Its release in early December, intentionally avoiding the festive rush of Thanksgiving and Christmas, seemed to set the stage for a quiet debut. Lionsgate had little money to devote to its publicity. Yet, against all expectations, the film became the center of a media frenzy.

By 4:00 a.m. East Coast time, a wave of news reports began flooding the internet, quickly spiraling into a whirlwind of attention. By 11:00 a.m., just seven hours later, 323 reports had been published from regular news outlets. However, the real storm was brewing in online communities.

On forums like Yahoo and IMDb, more than 8,966 posts flooded in, generating over 214,000 replies. The traffic was astronomical, with the highest click-through rate reaching 3 million, and the total clicks surpassing 12 million. This was no small feat—comparable even to the frenzy surrounding the summer's "Harry Potter" finale.

Yet, this was a low-budget comedy.

The coverage ranged from negative reports to chaotic scuffles, then suddenly, an unexpected surge of positive responses emerged. Within those seven hours, the narrative shifted three times, each time gaining more intensity. For most people, it was all happening in the blink of an eye, with no chance to catch up.

The turning point came when a post titled "Brando Mania" sparked a firestorm of discussion. The post not only pointed out that Renly had also been a victim of the accident but also criticized the media's portrayal of the event, particularly Entertainment Weekly's coverage by Cornell.

In just seven hours, this post garnered over 5 million clicks and 40,000 replies, so many that it caused the Yahoo community's servers to crash. The momentum didn't stop there—fans copied the post and started a second thread, which reached 20,000 replies before being locked as well.

Around 10:00 a.m., another post appeared on the Yahoo community. This one came from a nurse who had been on duty that night. She revealed firsthand accounts of the injured and described Renly's visit to the hospital in the early hours.

She wrote, "There were no reporters, no cameras, no media. Renly didn't even change his clothes from the premiere. He simply showed up at the hospital to visit the one patient there. He didn't want the paparazzi to catch the moment. While the media were busy stirring up drama, Renly was quietly working behind the scenes to make a difference."

The post was accompanied by Renly's signature and a message that deeply moved many readers, reigniting curiosity about his character. However, some critics accused the nurse's post of being staged, claiming that Renly was trying to clean up his image deliberately.

Such accusations were quickly met with backlash from Renly's supporters. They were furious, arguing that these comments were unjust and malicious. The post-war turned into an all-out battle online, with fans uniting in defense of Renly.

For the first time, Renly's fans, from film buffs to music lovers, stood together in overwhelming support. Those who had watched "Anti-Cancer Me" at the Lincoln Center rallied behind him, expressing their shock at the online chaos that followed the premiere.

One fan, William Taylor, expressed the sentiment that resonated with many: "Enough! Stop the slander! He never asked for attention, but now he's under attack!"

This rallying cry sparked a massive response from Renly's followers, who poured onto forums, defending him with an intensity that had never been seen before. For the first time, Renly had a true, unified fanbase—solid and unyielding, unlike the typical idol-fan culture. His steady rise through indie films, not reliant on media hype, had built him a following that was deeply loyal and sincere.

The controversy surrounding Renly's image began to shift. While media outlets had previously ignored or vilified him, the strength of his supporters was now impossible to ignore. The overwhelming support proved that the success of his past films, from "Fast & Furious 5" to "Crazy Love," was not a fluke—his fanbase was stronger than anyone had realized.

Renly's supporters made their voices heard, revealing that the actor's appeal went beyond media-driven hype. The growing wave of support became so powerful that it was now clear: Renly had become a bona fide star, respected for his dedication to his craft and his ability to inspire genuine loyalty from his audience.

The turning point came when Lauren, a key figure in the incident, held an interview to clarify the situation. She shared details about Renly's selfless actions that night, further clearing his name. "If it weren't for Renly, things could have been far worse. I don't even know if I'd be here for this interview," she said.

The truth was finally out, yet it had taken an absurdly long time to reach the public eye. The media, which had once painted Renly as the villain, now had to confront the reality of the situation. What should have been a moment of recognition for Renly was instead turned into a media circus. The farce led by "Entertainment Weekly" and driven by netizens was as ridiculous as it was real.

But, as often happens in the digital age, the controversy roared like a tornado before fading just as quickly. By noon, the buzz surrounding the premiere of "Anti-Cancer Me" had quieted down, and media outlets began reporting the story objectively, as if the drama had never happened.

Though the immediate controversy seemed to settle, its impact was just beginning to unfold. Whether people were initially interested in the film or not, "Anti-Cancer Me" had entered the public conversation. From its Grammy nominations to the fervent premiere crowds, the film and its lead actor had generated waves of curiosity.

The big question remained: Could "Anti-Cancer Me" live up to the hype? Despite the buzz, the final test for any film is always its content. No matter how much publicity it garnered, if the film itself couldn't deliver, the audience wouldn't buy it.

Would "Anti-Cancer Me" stand the test of this newfound attention, or would it fall flat?