Penn Badgley Shares His Theory on Why People Can't Help Themselves Fall for Joe

You is currently the most hyped series that's got everyone talking about it. Joe Goldberg, in Netflix's You, is a conversation starter as women around the world fall for the obsessive psycho stalker despite his horrendous and often deadly actions.

Penn Badgley plays the contradicting character of Joe Goldberg, who is a serial murderer with sociopathic tendencies. The character of Joe is supposed to be a very conflicting one, but Penn's character is loved, especially by his female fan following.

Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg.
Source: businessinsider

Penn Badgley himself is a little terrified by how the fans are responding to his character but also understands why fans can't help falling in love with Joe.

Why is Joe so Lovable?

Through season 1 and 2 of You, the character of Joe Goldberg consistently intensifies. Joe seems to have managed to go on a full-blown killing spree without consequences, and there was an even more bizarre reaction to his behavior.

Joe Goldberg and Forty Quinn.
Source: etonline 

Pretty much the whole of the internet developed a huge crush on him. Because Penn is such a good looking person, who gives out a charming vibe making people forget about all the horrible things Joe does throughout the series.

Penn Badgley on Joe Goldberg

Penn Badgley, who portrays the creepy bibliophile serial killer Joe Goldberg, is aware of how obsessed people have become of his spine-chilling but make it sexy character.

The former Gossip Girl star says in an interview InStyle. "Sometimes, he's the exact perfect balance between chivalrous and allowing his partner to be autonomous and empowered." 

Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg 
Source: Oprah magazine

Badgley added: "He's actually in some ways made to be the perfect guy that does this really to even say it's terrible is kind of an understatement thing."

The internet took You, and its characters to a whole another level, what is supposed to be merely for entertainment people are glorifying and obsessing over it.

Watch: Penn Talk about Joe Goldberg 

There are tweets and memes made by fans romanticizing Joe to which the 33-year-old actor has been quick to remind fans that Joe Goldberg is a murderer and well, not much of a good person.

People falling in love with a cynical protagonist is not a strange thing as a lot of negative characters like the Joker, Voldemort, Jack Torrance (The Shining), making them the most iconic characters in the history of cinema. Likewise, Joe is also pretty much up there in the list of Iconic negative characters.

Joe Goldberg- You 2.
Source: popbuzz

After season 2, fans are left wanting to see more. The cliffhanger, in the end, left the audience anxious and full of questions; there were a lot of people who wished to Joe to have a happy ending as felt sympathetic towards the character because of Penn's charm.

Joe Goldberg inside his cage 
Source: Film daily 

In an interview with ET, Penn says, "people like Joe cannot receive what they want in life because they want something impossible."

Also see: 'You' Ellie Alves Actress Jenna Ortega - Top 5 Facts

Not everyone is a fan of Joe, though. One Twitter user wrote, "The amount of people romanticizing @PennBadgley's character in YOU scares me," to which the actor wholeheartedly agreed.

Ditto. It will be all the motivation I need for season 2.

Badgley is quick to remind fans how Joe is a problematic character, and people should not be glorifying such thing. The You actor says 'I'm not saying it's bad to find it compelling, but what is it that people like so much?"

Penn Badgley unofficially announce You season 3
Source: TVline

He said. "I think with this show, we have the opportunity to explore, and we don't necessarily have to feel bad about it, but we should be asking the question." 

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