American Horror Stories' Naughty List Ending Explained

Early on in "The Naughty List," we see exactly what leads to the Bro House's sharp decline in popularity. Group leader Zinn convinces the rest of the guys to shoot a video at a bridge that is known as a location where people regularly attempt suicide. When they film a man taking his own life, Zinn is convinced that the shocking content will cause their subscription numbers to soar. But their callousness and cruelty only make the public turn on them.

This aspect of the episode's narrative obviously draws from several very real controversies. Before their video is uploaded, Barry, who often tries to act as the voice of reason, warns Zinn, "All it takes is one bad post. Look at Logan Paul, or PewDiePie, or Patt Starr."

All three examples given by Barry are real-life influencers who faced significant backlash, with the most relevant example here being Logan Paul. In 2017, the YouTube sensation uploaded a vlog detailing his trip to Aokigahara, a forest in Japan known for its high occurrence of suicides. The video itself contained footage of a dead body Paul stumbled across in the forest, a decision that was widely derided as insensitive and careless (via The Atlantic).

However, as Zinn tells Barry after he lodges his concern, "Dude, all those people are still doing their s— and they've got more subscribers than ever."

Zinn isn't entirely wrong, as, according to Insider, Paul actually gained followers in the wake of his own controversy. That doesn't happen for the Bro House, though, which forces them to try new tactics to regain their popularity.

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline​ at​ 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.