Shadowhunters was cancelled earlier in the year, yet some are still holding out hope that Freeform may renew the series once more, if renewal can be justified through campaigns and fan efforts. After all, 2018 was a great year for cancelled shows finding homes elsewhere. So it at least seems possible a campaign could lead to the show returning somewhere. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem likely at Freeform, and fans are furious after it mocked them during an airing of Toy Story.
As seen above, a pop-up appears with the question "Will Freeform save Shadowhunters if I keep tweeting about it?" Woody then shakes the Magic 8-Ball which delivers the message "Don't count on it" right after. The message is seemingly a reference to a Twitter campaign orchestrated by fans that has asked Freeform to renew the program. The effort has done other things as well, such as raising tens of thousands of dollars for charity.
Suffice to say, there were many involved in the Shadowhunters campaign miffed by Freeform's message. Tweets are piling up with those upset by the network's joke and likes and retweets raining in to those who fire back at Freeform.
Mocking the Shadowhunters fanbase doesn't seem like the best move for Freeform, especially when the final leg of the series still has yet to air. Diehard fans may tune in regardless, as these are the only guaranteed future episodes that exist, but Freeform may have burned the bridge for some who may have stuck around after its end. Conversely, fans may want to watch their words, as Freeform has already cancelled an announced finale of an original series already this year.
The Shadowhunters Twitter account hasn't publicly referenced the drama, despite replies from fans requesting it do so. More likely than not it won't happen, as the account may be handled from someone working directly with Freeform. As for fans, there seems to be some worry this slight will cause some to skip out on the final episodes, as a means of revenge. Others are requesting that not be done, as ignoring the episodes may hurt Shadowhunters chances of Season 4.
As of writing, Freeform has yet to issue an apology to Shadowhunters fans for the message. While the message has been poorly received and may be considered in bad taste, it's doubtful the network ran the message knowing it would get the response it did. Will the network offer an apology, or will it instead keep quiet and hope the drama blows over?
As previously mentioned, Shadowhunters will return for the final leg of its show on Freeform Monday, February 25 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Keep tabs on what other shows are coming in 2019 with our midseason premiere guide, or take a look at what 2018 still has to offer with our fall premiere guide.
