SOMETHING needs to be said about the “Russian AU” (and brand-new-lover)
“I don’t usually do call-outs and try to avoid doing so if I can. But this however is a case that needs to be addressed.
You guys in the LazyTown fandom might remember the previous controversy surrounding tumblr user denyok-bubblegum. Well, she’s made a brand-new account called brand-new-lover where she is posting new art and I see a lot of people still reblogging her work. But I think it’s important to know just what you’re supporting when you support her.
Previously, proof had surfaced that she drew depictions of rape and pedophilic ships. However, there’s more that she’s done and is likely still currently planning to do.
She has something called “the Russian AU”.
What is the Russian AU, you ask? Well,there’s a lot to cover, so buckle up. First let me show you her introduction of this AU that was posted on her old blog.
To put it simply, the Russian AU is an AU that she has created where Robbie and Sportacus live together in Russia, a country known for its extreme homophobia and violence against the LGBT+ community. Currently, people in Russia are being killed in hate crimes, and some gay men in certain areas are being put into concentration camps.
Here, we see the artist taking the homophobia in Russia, and turning it into some sort of plot. Having an AU that simply takes place in Russia would be fine, but having homophobia as a central part of the plot is a completely different story.
She is blatantly trying to romanticize the homophobia in Russia, turning it into some sort of sexy story. Notice her use of the term “kisses and hot embraces.”
It is also important to note that she describes Robbie as “cold, mean and dom” all under one breath. Why is dom, a sexual term describing someone who is assertive and controlling, being used to describe Robbie alongside terms such as “cold” and “mean”?
Also, why does Robbie speak to Sportacus like that in the comic? Notice the words that are underlined in red. He uses harsh words with him and insults him. Simply put, he treats Sportacus here in a way that you should not treat a lover, or someone that you are living with.
To add onto that, the idea of Sportacus being more “mentally stable” and his “supporter” is also problematic. It’s not right for Sportacus to be supporting him while Robbie keeps putting him down. That is not an equal relationship. This sounds exactly like the trope where a woman is expected to be emotionally responsible and supportive of an immature jerk. Only this time, they are both men. It’s not a good trope.
Here, we have another piece of the Russian AU where it is explicitly established that the boys could be put in danger if they are caught displaying affection in public. Notice how nervous and anxious Sportacus looks. Notice how Robbie is trying to coax him into doing something he is not comfortable with. Notice how the artist in her comments, places sexual implications on the situation.
Huh, I guess fear that someone might catch you and publicly harass or assault you for your sexuality is a “sexy situation” now.
Yes, because being worried that you’ll get caught and possibly confronted by your neighbors and put in danger is the hottest thing on the planet.
It doesn’t matter that the artist is from Russia. That doesn’t give her a free pass. She is not mlm. And correct me if I am wrong, but I don’t believe that she is even LGBT+ herself. The point is, as someone who is not mlm, she has no place to write about something like this, especially in the way that she is trying to portray it. It is not cute, it is not hot, and it is not just some exciting twist.
This is a real, recent, and current issue that is happening to real men today. To write about something like this is a way like this is extremely insensitive.
There is another issue that needs to be brought up.
In a lot of the art that was on her old blog, you can see a reoccurring theme of Sportacus appearing extremely uncomfortable, and Robbie being predatory towards him.
She literally uses the word “violation” to describe the situation that Robbie has put Sportacus in. when you look up the word “violate”, the definitions the stick out are
1.“To fail to respect someone’s peace, privacy, or rights”
2. “Treating someone with irreverence or disrespect”
3. “To rape or sexually assault someone”
Notice how Robbie has got Sportacus cornered. Sportacus cannot get away from him. Sportacus looks extremely uncomfortable around Robbie and is unable to even make eye contact with him. He is looking away. His shoulders are even haunched in a defensive position.
Now, this one is REALLY bad. And from the Russian AU, no less. Sportacus looks almost like he is in pain here. The language that Robbie is using is threatening and predatory, and so is his expression. To make matters worse, this situation is blatantly sexual (Robbie seems to be touching him below the belt).
The following picture pretty much explains itself.
This one is one of the ones that stuck out to me the most. He’s unhappy, uncomfortable and in fear. And Robbie is being a total creep.
The artist has the tendency to create this huge power dynamic between Robbie and Sportacus in lot of her work. With Robbie taking on a “seme” role where he is assertive towards Sportacus and often violates his comfort. While Sportacus on the other hand is put into an “uke” role where he is meeker and more submissive, and often but in situations where the look on his face honestly looks like he kind of doesn’t want to be there or is fearing for himself. She even draws him as weaker looking as less muscular than he is in canon, more or less feminizing him.
The artist pretty much just uses every toxic and problematic yaoi trope. On her old blog, she even had a lot of her art literally tagged as “yaoi”.
She portrays Robbie as abusive to Sportacus.
AND LET’S NOT FORGET THE ACTUAL, LITERAL RAPE AND SEXUAL VIOLATION THAT SHE DREW.
OH AND BY THE WAY, A FAN (and friend) OF HERS WROTE A RAPE FIC BASED OFF OF THIS ART FOR HER AS A GIFT
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FIC (tw, it’s obviously…rape) IT IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE ART
You can learn more about the rape she drew by clicking here.
Oh and look here if you want to learn more about the pedophilic ship art she drew between characters as old as 30-40, and as young as 7-8. (tw for pedophilia obviously)
An attempt was made to confront brand-new-lover on her Russian AU.
She had anon turned off, and then after this ask was sent, she ignored it and suddenly closed her askbox. She saw this, but chose not to respond. She has a tendency to lie in the face of controversy, and to run away and avoid confrontation rather than owning up to what she did. This is the whole reason why she keeps on remaking and changing usernames.
Anyway, even after all that has happened, I am STILL seeing VERY MANY people supporting brand-new-lover and reblogging her art. I’m just letting you know that when you support her art, you are supporting what she believes is okay. Because every single thing I mentioned, she has put in a sexual and fetishizing light.
A reblog of her art is a reblog supporting someone who fetishizes rape, homophobia, and abuse- and who also used to draw pedo art.
I will not stand for that. I don’t support people who support people that do that. If I see anyone reblogging her art, I will NOT be understanding of it.
Block and unfollow me if you plan to keep supporting her art. Do it before I have to do it myself.
