Nic Pizzolatto, creator of the True Detective franchise, has been vocal about his distaste for Season 4 of the HBO drama that stars Jodie Foster and Kali Reis.
Although Pizzolatto is credited as executive producer for the fourth season, he was not involved with the series that Issa López wrote, executive produced, and directed.
Following the finale of True Detective: Night Country, Pizzolatto took to social media to give a platform to negativity about the show and has found himself in the middle of backlash over it.
Amid the controversy, Pizzolatto created an Instagram post for viewers to air out their positive and negative comments about the show.
“This here is the place for all your trolling/support/infighting around True Detective and the absolute moral degeneracy and misogyny of anyone who did not think it was good. Let’s move these screeds off my posts about my wife, true love, and my father’s death, kay?” Pizzolatto captioned the post.
He continued, “I’d say ‘stay civil’ but of course civility has no place when criticism of a television show indicates some form of Hitlerian evil that must be stamped out. So roll on, tide. Satire is welcome, and do try to have a nice day.”
Comments on Pizzolatto’s post came in, with many taking the opportunity to call out the True Detective creator.
“And yet… My female lead character gon an Emmy nomination,” Pizzolatto replied to a user criticizing him. “‘Mediocrity gets rewarded’ … you should reflect on that, given what’s being rewarded at present.”
Pizzolatto also got some support with a user noting they never saw the creator say anything negative about Season 4. “EXACTLY. Clickbait farming at its finest,” Pizzolatto replied. Another user suggested Pizzolatto not let the negativity “get to you,” with Pizzolatto replying, “‘They’ couldn’t get to me if they had an army.”
Another Instagram user mentioned Pizzolatto’s statement didn’t have an apology “for creating hate against the season,” to which the screenwriter replied, “I didn’t create anything of the kind. It was there from the first ep. And I only apologize if I’ve done something wrong.”
Although many users called out Pizzolatto for “spreading hate,” the True Detective creator denied it throughout the comments.
“Where have I spread hate? That’s a ridiculous accusation, honestly. I think you got some fake news. Or need to read my post more closely,” Pizzolatto said.
Another user noted that Season 4 “was solid” and had a “great ending,” noting that Pizzolatto would “feel differently” about the show if it wasn’t called True Detective.
“I don’t feel any way in particular. Glad you enjoyed,” Pizzolatto replied.
