A fascination with Brenton Easton Ellis’s fictional serial killer, Patrick Bateman, permeates many online circles, particularly those that are primarily young, male, and conservative. Such allure is odd. Bateman’s character is thoroughly reprehensible. He is a hyper-materialistic, vain, murderous sexual deviant who subscribes to an entirely amoral brand of egoism. In a way, he represents everything the online Right stands against, yet he enjoys enduring popularity among them.

The American Psycho protagonist has carved out an established presence on a number of social media platforms and forums, usually being presented through iconic scenes from the novel’s film adaptation. Sometimes these come in the form of stand-alone memes, other times as reaction images. Occasionally, entire online personas are borne out of the character.