Creator Drama
Anthony Fantano Defends 2024 Halsey Review Amid Fan Backlash
Ongoing
Photo: FrankJavCee (cc by 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons All clips and posts below are embedded from their original sources.
By the numbers: this timeline documents 4 events from Oct 29, 2024 to Jun 22, 2026, drawn from 3 sources.
“I’m certain my least memorable song will be remembered more fondly and for more time than anything you ever do with your life will be”
via variety.com
Background
On October 29, 2024, Anthony Fantano uploaded a nine‑minute video on his YouTube channel The Needle Drop reviewing Halsey’s album “The Great Impersonator,” which was inspired by her cancer battle. He described the tracks as “bad Halloween costumes,” called the sound “stale, 2000s pop‑rock vibes,” accused the record of “main‑character syndrome,” and gave it a 1/10 grade.
The review lingered in fans’ memory, and in June 2026 Halsey (Ashley Frangipane) responded on Twitter, accusing Fantano of misogyny and labeling him a “raised‑by‑4chan edgelord bully.” She argued his criticism dismissed her medical struggle and sparked a wave of fan backlash against the critic.
The timeline
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Fantano posts 1/10 review of Halsey’s album
Anthony Fantano reportedly released a nine‑minute YouTube review of “The Great Impersonator,” calling the songs “bad Halloween costumes,” “stale,” and assigning a 1 out of 10 grade.[328]
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Halsey tweets at Fantano
Halsey reportedly quoted‑tweeted Fantano, writing, “I’m certain my least memorable song will be remembered more fondly… Everything you say is more ‘whiny’ and ‘edgy’ than I was at any point on that album. But at least I had the excuse of going through chemo.”[329]
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Halsey adds accusations of bullying
In a follow‑up tweet, Halsey reportedly called Fantano a “pay for clicks reaction YouTuber,” a “raised‑by‑4chan edgelord bully,” and said his critique was a “performative act.”[330]
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Fantano speaks to Variety
Anthony Fantano reportedly told Variety the low score was based on songwriting quality, not Halsey’s illness, and denied being a “devil” or targeting the artist because of her health.[328]
Frequently asked
Why did Anthony Fantano give Halsey’s album a 1/10?
Fantano said the review focused on weak songwriting and uninspired production, not on Halsey’s personal health struggles.
Has Halsey responded to Fantano’s explanation?
As of the latest reports on June 22 2026, Halsey has not issued a public response to Fantano’s Variety interview.
Is the dispute resolved?
No. The conversation remains active online, with fans continuing to discuss both the review and Halsey’s statements.
Related drama
Sources
- variety.com, Halsey and her fans’ outrage over an old album review is showing no signs of fading. On Sunday evening, after music critic/content creator Anthony Fantano made a snarky comment about his review of Hal, Jun 22, 2026.
- Twitter (original post), Original twitter post by halsey: I’m certain my least memorable song will be remembered more fondly and for more time than anything you ever do with your life will be. Everything you say is more “whin, Jun 22, 2026.
- Twitter (original post), Original twitter post by halsey: Who cares he gave a bad review? I care that a pay for clicks reaction YouTuber can facade as a pro critic and say it’s “main character syndrome” for an artist to lamen, Jun 22, 2026.
Cite this timeline
This timeline compiles 4 dated events from 3 sources. If it helped your reporting, cite it:
GenZHype. “Anthony Fantano Defends 2024 Halsey Review Amid Fan Backlash.”
GenZHype, 5 September 2026,
https://genzhype.com/drama/anthony-fantano-defends-2024-halsey-review-amid-fan-backlash/.