The Surprising Fanbase for Homelander: Why Some Viewers Idolize a Villain

In the world of fandom, there’s always a subset of people who admire characters for unexpected reasons, sometimes missing the point entirely. This phenomenon is especially clear in The Boys, where the anti-hero Homelander, portrayed by Antony Starr, has developed a surprising fanbase that genuinely idolizes him — even though he’s designed to represent everything dangerous about unchecked power.

Draped in stars, stripes, and eagles, Homelander is the embodiment of a twisted “American ideal.” He’s a powerful, narcissistic character who views humans as “mudpeople” and lives off the adoration of the masses, often violently expressing his disdain for anyone who doesn’t serve his purpose. The Boys, based on the graphic novel series, doesn’t hold back in showing his cruelty, making it clear he’s a villain at heart.

Sure, there are moments where Homelander’s traumatic upbringing elicits a bit of sympathy. Raised in a lab with a fabricated family background, he endured unimaginable abuse, which The Boys reveals in unsettling detail. Yet, while his story might explain his behavior, it hardly justifies his actions. Starr himself addressed this idolization last year at the For The Love Of SciFi convention, noting, “Some fans didn’t get that we’re mocking these traits…it’s like, ‘you’re f**ked up.’”

Despite scenes of him committing cold-blooded murder in broad daylight, some fans still see Homelander as heroic. Starr’s own response? “If you admire him, you’ve really missed the point.”