Blame Trolls for Amy Schumer's Bad Netflix 'Leather Special' Reviews

Netflix

It turns out all those negative reviews of Amy Schumer’s new Netflix special weren’t from disappointed fans: a new report says online trolls coordinated to post hundreds of one-star reviews for “The Leather Special” the week after its release.

Splitsider reports that members of the “alt-right” subreddit r/The_Donald called on users to inundate the special with the bad reviews, just as prior campaigns targeted Schumer’s past projects. The special, released on March 7, currently has more than 1,400 user reviews on Netflix, hundreds more than other Netflix stand-up comedy specials.

On Instagram, Schumer slammed news outlets that reported on the special’s negative reviews. (TheWrap is among the outlets that reported on the reviews, and our previous story has been updated.)

Also Read: Amy Schumer's Netflix Special Slammed By Users: 'She's Lost Herself'

“I am embarrassed for the ‘journalists’ who report on trolls activities as if it’s news,” she wrote. “It’s indicative of the administration right now. Anyone who reported that ‘viewers aren’t happy’ with my special, it would have been cool if you did a moment of research before posting.”

The comedian added that “alt-right trolls” have previously conspired to tank her other projects, including her Comedy Central sketch series “Inside Amy Schumer,” the film “Trainwreck” and her 2016 book “The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo.”

“They organize to get my ratings down. Meeting in sub Reddit rooms. They tried on my book and movies and tv show And I want to thank them,” she wrote. “It makes me feel so powerful and dangerous and brave. It reminds me what I’m saying is effective and brings more interest to my work and their obsession with me keeps me going.”

This isn’t the first time trolls have taken on female-fronted comedy: the trailer for last summer’s “Ghostbusters” reboot was barraged with dislikes, many of them from people who objected, apparently, to the idea that women could bust ghosts.

Read Schumer’s full statement below:

I am so proud of my special and grateful to all the people spreading love on line about it. I am the first female comic who is selling out arenas all over the world and so grateful for that. I am embarrassed for the "journalists" who report on trolls activities as if it's news. It's indicative of administration right now. Anyone who reported that "viewers aren't happy" with my special, it would have been cool if you did a moment of research before posting. The alt right organized trolls attack everything I do. Read the @splitsider article. They organize to get my ratings down. Meeting in sub Reddit rooms. They tried on my book and movies and tv show And I want to thank them. It makes me feel so powerful and dangerous and brave. It reminds me what I'm saying is effective and bring more interest to my work and their obsession with me keeps me going. I am only alarmed by the people printing their organized trolling as "news" this is what the current administration wants. So this post has nothing against the trolls. I thank you trolls so much. It fills me with hope and power to see you all furiously posting so as always accuse me of whatever lies you want. Call me a whale. Call me a thief and I will continue to rise and fight and lead. I know who I am. I am strong and beautiful and will use my voice my whole time on this earth. Journalists do better it's embarrassing. Trolls see you on the next one! ????????????

A post shared by @amyschumer on Mar 15, 2017 at 9:28am PDT

Evolution of Amy Schumer: From Stand Up Comic to 'I Feel Pretty' (Photos)

Long before we all came to know and love the charming witty multi-hyphenate, Amy Schumer was once an unknown comic longing for her big break.
Getty Images
2003

Schumer enters the world of stand-up comedy. She performs her first ever gig at Manhattan’s Gotham Comedy Club shortly after graduating from Towson University in Maryland.
Getty
2007

Schumer appears on a Comedy Central episode of "Live at Gotham," which showcases comedians performing at the New York City comedy club.
Getty Images
2007

After previously auditioning for but not booking it, the comedian finally makes it on to the fifth season of "Last Comic Standing," where comedians compete for $250,000 and a TV special.

Schumer placed fourth.
Instagram
2011

Schumer applies to be a writer on the "Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen," but doesn't get the job -- instead, she gets to be a roaster.

She received a great deal of attention for her jokes. Not all of it positive.
Getty Images
2012

Schumer's comedy special "Mostly Sex Stuff" premieres on Comedy Central where she discusses ... well, mostly sex stuff.

According to the Washington Post, Schumer's comedy special was the second highest rated Comedy Central special in five years.
Comedy Central
2013

Schumer premieres "Inside Amy Schumer" on Comedy Central, her first comedy pilot. The sketch show was renewed for a fifth season in 2016.
Comedy Central
2015

Schumer hosts the 2015 MTV Movie Awards, where she gets praised for her great jokes.
Getty Images
2015

Time Magazine names Schumer one of its 100 Most Influential People of 2015.

The magazine wrote:

"Amy’s got your back.
She’s in your corner.
She’s an honesty bomb.
And she’s coming for you."
Getty
2015

"Trainwreck" (co-starring Bill Hader) put Schumer on the map as both a gifted writer and actress. She earned a nomination from the Writers Guild of America for Best Original Screenplay and won a Golden Globe for Best Actress -- Motion Picture Comedy or Musical.
Universal Pictures
2016

Schumer was joined on stage at the 2016 Golden Globe Awards by Jennifer Lawrence, and they quickly became Hollywood's most loved BFFs.
NBC
2016

The comedian releases a memoir titled "The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo." The book rose to the No. 1 spot on the New York Times Best Seller List.
Getty Images
2016

Schumer was in talks to play Barbie in a live-action movie for Sony based on the iconic Mattel line of dolls; the deal later fell through.
Getty
2017

The comedian co-starred with Goldie Hawn in R-rated comedy "Snatched" about a super-cautious mom (Hawn) who joins her daughter (Schumer) on a jungle vacation to Ecuador that goes horribly, horribly wrong.
Twentieth Century Fox
2017

Schumer made her Broadway debut in November 2017 in Steve Martin's comedy "Meteor Shower" opposite Keegan-Michael Key, Laura Benanti and Jeremy Shamos.
2018

Schumer starred in the comedy "I Feel Pretty" about a woman who finds confidence and self-esteem after suffering a head injury. Schumer took on criticism of the movie's body image themes. “I heard a lot of, ‘She doesn’t have a right to feel bad about herself because she looks however she looks,'” Schumer said, adding that the movie is “not about an ugly troll becoming beautiful, it’s about a woman who has low self-esteem finding some … Everyone’s got a right to feel that feeling, regardless of their appearance.”
STX Entertainment