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For many true-crime fans, the Netflix and TikTok era has transformed notorious criminals into unexpected objects of romantic fantasy. Particularly popular among young women is hybristophilia — a sexual attraction to criminals. The focus is on serial killers and violent offenders such as Ed Gein, infamous for his murders and gruesome acts on his Wisconsin farm, reports NYP.

Ryan Murphy’s Netflix series Monster: The Ed Gein Story, starring Charlie Hunnam as Gein, has made the notorious murderer surprisingly appealing to a digital audience. Instead of fear or revulsion, many viewers report feelings of sympathy — or even desire — toward him.

“I’m attracted to Ed Gein — it’s crazy,” wrote one fan on X. “He’s kind of cute,” added another.

Researchers in the UK, studying viral TikTok content, explain this phenomenon as a combination of physical attractiveness and the romanticization of antisocial behavior. Young women often perceive these criminals as “misunderstood” or “innocent,” forgiving or even justifying their crimes.

Key Mechanisms Behind the Phenomenon:

1. Halo Effect — physical attractiveness softens the perception of the criminal’s actions. Attractive offenders are seen as “innocent” or “misunderstood.”

2. Actor-to-Criminal Transfer — good-looking actors portraying real criminals (e.g., Zac Efron as Ted Bundy) amplify attraction to the actual offenders.

3. Desire to “Fix” — many young women fantasize about being able to change the criminal’s dark side.

4. Protection and Loyalty — attractive villains evoke a desire to protect and remain loyal.

5. Gen Z Irony — the digital generation consumes criminal content as entertainment, often with humor.

6. Victim-Fantasy — some are drawn to imagining closeness with dangerous individuals.

Studies also cite real-life examples: handsome male defendants such as Cameron Herrin or Luigi Manzone have received admiration and justification for their actions based solely on appearance and style.

A survey of 95 women aged 18–27 examined their susceptibility to hybristophilia. Results showed that the more engaged a young woman is with “handsome villain” content, the stronger her attraction to such figures becomes.

“These findings show that social media directly shapes how young women perceive criminals, romanticizing them and increasing the allure of antisocial behavior,” the researchers conclude.

They emphasize the need for education and preventive measures to reduce the impact of digital content on dangerous romantic fantasies and the glamorization of violence.

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