The Brief: A free app for fans of Jeremy Renner became overrun with trolls before it was eventually shut down.

DEEP DIVE
Update: The Jeremy Renner App has been shut-down after it became overrun with trolls and Jeremy Renner impersonators…
truly lmfao r.i.p. the jeremy renner app pic.twitter.com/VWFx201ZNb
— karen han (@karenyhan) September 4, 2019
Jeremy Renner? There’s an app for that. A free app called Jeremy Renner Official is available for download. The app is run by a company called escapex, that creates apps for individual celebrity’s fandoms.
The Jeremy Renner app has an interface similar to Instagram. Is a place where Renner stans or ren-heads can view all of Renner’s social media in one place and communicate with each other about their love of Renner and anything else.

Although this app is intended to be a space for Renner to be able to connect with fans, it has become somewhat overrun with trolls. Most of this takes place in the fan-feed section, where anyone can create a post.ย Much of the trolling is lighthearted and fun, but other posts are more sinister such as ones by people posing as Bill Cosby, Jeffrey Epstein, and Casey Anthony. Some of this trolling has been properly mitigated and many recent posts are from genuine Renner stans.

The Jeremy Renner app requires a Facebook login for use. In-app purchases of virtual “stars” (essentially in-app clout) are available for purchase with prices ranging $1.99 to $99.99. Information about what the app’s creators do with user data can be found in their privacy policy.
the Jeremy Renner app offers in-app purchases where you buy stars that apparently donโt do anything besides show that you have stars pic.twitter.com/J4jIPVa5EV
— zak ๐ฃ๐ผ๐๐ช (@ZakKondratenko) August 23, 2019
So I checked out the Jeremy Renner app… pic.twitter.com/exBx3qWhEs
— Scott Daly (@scottdaly85) August 29, 2019