Part 4/11:
Throughout the controversy, mainstream media outlets appeared to side with the creators, often shielding the series from its harshest criticisms. Headlines celebrating The Acolyte as a success—despite mounting evidence to the contrary—became commonplace. For example, Disney reported that the series garnered 4.8 million views on the first day, which they framed as a triumph. Yet, industry insiders and analytics soon revealed the truth: the show was underperforming significantly.