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Critical Role's Matthew Mercer argues cringe culture discourages authenticity (and I kinda agree with him)
Critical Role’s Matthew Mercer says the word “cringe” is overused, and it denigrates people for being their authentic selves
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Matthew Mercer thinks it’s time for us to stop calling things cringe. The voice actor, who serves as the dungeon master for the web series Critical Role, believes the word is overused and discourages people from being their authentic selves.
“We live in an odd time of cringe culture where anything that is honest can be called cringe, and I don’t agree with that,” Matthew Mercer says during a Critical Role spotlight panel at New York Comic Con 2023. “I hear where people are coming from, but most things that I see being called cringe are just people being their authentic self. And other people can’t deal with that. And that’s fine if they can’t connect with it, but everything you put out there that someone might call cringe, somebody else might resonate with.”
“Unfortunately, sometimes you’ll hear the frustrating responses more than you will the people that are quietly enjoying it. So, stepping back and trying not to focus on those harsh comments and on really believing that people out there are quietly enjoying the art that you’re putting out there.”
It’s hard to argue with that logic. Instead of being ashamed at our uniqueness and calling it “cringe,” we need to celebrate who we are and what we enjoy. Let’s do Matthew Mercer a favor and leave the word “cringe” behind in 2026.
From the lands of Exandria to your very own smartscreens, Popverse has everything you need to know about the TTRPG phenomenon that is Critical Role. Here you'll find:
- Popverse's Critical Role watch order
- An interview with GM Brennan Lee Mulligan
- The cast's appearance at C2E2 '25
...and more. Roll initiative, player. Adventure awaits.
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