Dream SMP was a multiplayer Minecraft server created in 2020 by YouTubers DreamWasTaken and GeorgeNotFound. Although the Dream SMP server itself is gone, the fandom still exists in the shadows of Tumblr, hanging on by a thread to stay relevant. During Covid-19, this Minecraft series became incredibly popular among teens. The server began to grow, as did its fanbase. The server eventually developed lore and a story based on the Broadway musical, “Hamilton.” But as the fanbase grew, it quickly drew attention and became cringeworthy due to various people throughout the fandom.
Many people in the fandom ruin the experience and give it a bad reputation. People take canon characters like Dream and George who are the most commonly shipped characters. Shipping is when someone takes characters and puts them in a romantic relationship. Many Dream SMP fandom members identify the two together with green and blue colors due to Dream having a green Minecraft skin and George having a mainly blue-colored skin. They also identify the two with their ship name called “DreamNotFound” or “DNF.”
The reason why the DNF is so cringe-worthy is because it is extremely sexualized. George is depicted as a “soft boi” and needs a big strong man like Dream to save him when canonically that is far from the truth. Dream and George start off with a tight relationship, but then slowly break away as Dream commits crimes and tries to keep the server under his control. George on the other hand becomes independent and avoids Dream so he is not seen as an ally.
Cosplayers were also another big issue within the community with some making thirst traps, engaging in uncomfortable roleplaying videos, or awkward ships or videos of people being shipped together. Like the DNF community, many of these ships and videos were sexualized which created a bad reputation for many of the other Dream SMP cosplayers who had such amazing and beautiful costumes.
More sensitive readers might want to skip this paragraph as it discusses issues which may be triggering. Another reason for it being cringe during the downfall of the Dream SMP was when Dream and another Dream SMP member, Wilbur Soot, were accused of being in disgusting relationships. Dream was accused of having a relationship with a minor, though much of the evidence is unclear if it was truly real or if it was a rumor. Wilbur had allegations thrown at him by his ex-girlfriend, Shubble. She revealed how Wilbur was toxic, harmed her when she asked him to stop by biting and bruising her skin, damaged her living space by not cleaning after himself in her home as well as having gaslighted and manipulated her often. Shubble is a Minecraft streamer who is involved in servers such as Empire SMP and Minecraft SOS and got in a relationship with Wilbur around 2021. Although there were the occasional case where she was proven to also be toxic in the relationship, the Dream SMP community went against Wilbur and he lost a majority of his fans.
With Dream and Wilbur’s accusations, many saw the Dream SMP community as toxic and supporters of these men. But that is not the case. Many of the community were either there to see their favorite streamer, or like me, were there for the story. Although many have completely left the community, there are still those who are down underground who have hidden the fact they were a part of the community. Cosplayers are still out there. Artists are still drawing fanart.
The thing I hate about being in a community that is seen as cringe is that when 10% of people are pointed out, it affects the 90% of the rest of the fandom, making them seem like the freaks as well. Not to say that some people in those fandoms aren’t disturbed, they are. A fandom should have some good art, cosplays and fan stories. For the Dream SMP fandom, there are popular animators like Wolfy the Witch, Toktopus, Casserol :D, and Knp!!!, as well as so many more that should be appreciated for their time and effort. There are even song writers like Derivakat, and Halfy and Winks who still write music today and have grown their platforms due to their popularity in the Dream SMP era.
Overall, the Dream SMP is a very misunderstood fandom and should not be winced at the moment it is brought up.
