“Not everything is about politics,” said The Creature.
Photo by Aidan Moran
Over the past year, journalists, researchers, and monster-hunters across the United States have begun to document appearances of what they call “The Creature”, which they say can be found lurking amid all forms of modern popular culture. While The Creature is not known to physically attack, prolonged exposure to it can twist the mind, stripping it of qualities like empathy and humanity.
“2025 has been, for lack of a better term, a Creature feature,” pop culture analyst Haile Vanguard explained. “It’s good at disguising itself, but once you notice it, you notice it everywhere. It’s somehow able to move very quickly; it’s in our movies, our TV shows, our fashion, our internet trends. You look a little more closely at your blue jeans ad, and — boom! — there’s The Creature.”
Despite its “hulking, shadowy body and evil, menacing presence,” experts like Vanguard point out that The Creature is visible in the background of everything from new TV shows to TikTok videos. In an online trend where self-proclaimed “trad-wives” film themselves cooking, cleaning, and discussing their willing subservience to their husbands, The Creature has been found loitering in the background of almost every single video. “What’s even more alarming is that it hides pretty much in plain sight,” she added. “The popularity of TV shows where The Creature is prominently displayed — such as ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’, where it stars as a main cast member — seem to reflect a certain fascination with The Crea- ture which is now widespread across younger generations.”
Recent reports show that producers and creators of certain shows have even attempted to line their sets with Creature repellant. These shows have been cancelled or censored by their networks, which reportedly enjoy The Creature’s presence and plan to give it even more screen time.
“We actually kinda like The Creature,” said one CBS News representative wearing Taylor Swift’s “Opalite” necklace, declining to elaborate further.
Various celebrities have begun to vocally share their support for The Creature, often unprompted. By late 2025, figures like Nicki Minaj and Sydney Sweeney were seen “hanging out” with The Creature and encouraging others to do the same.
Despite myriad sightings, White House officials like Communications Director Steven Cheung maintain that The Creature does not actually exist and its presence is “all in the viewers’ minds.” When asked about the shadowy, malignant presence which looms on TV, in movies, and across the internet, Cheung responded, “People really just see whatever they want to. There is obviously no Creature there. That dark, ominous force? Totally normal. TV is just like that. And I think that’s beautiful.”
Experts have recently determined that there is hope for the future of the country, despite being overtaken by The Creature. As more people begin to acknowledge and condemn its presence in both pop culture and daily life, some theorize that it is growing weaker.
“The more you point out The Creature’s hiding spots, the easier they are to see,” Vanguard said. “And the more people who see The Creature for what it is, the less powerful it becomes. I urge everyone out there: seek out The Creature. Find it. Poke fun at it. Point out to everyone around you just how monstrous it looks — before it’s too late.”
Abby is a "journalist" who has never told a lie in her life. She enjoys long walks on the beach, beating dead horses, and running content at every possible moment.
