He's definitely done some of that in his day. I believed he apologized and rephrased his what he meant about PSH after all the backlash.
A story on the other side of his personality and about the campaign, some weeks after he withdrew from conventions because of nearly committing suicide, fans brought candles for support to the 2015 San Diego Comic Con panel. This was his response to the fan support. At this time, fans didn't know he had been recently suicidal. If anyone is interested, he talks about being suicidal and his other struggles with anxiety and depression in the book Family Don't End in Blood.
I feel like sharing that the admin of Supernaturalwiki.com, the best most comprehensive wiki on Supernatural that's been used by fans & even the writers, is a multishipper (both Wincest & Destiel, among others). She's a super friendly person that's done a lot to help fans and the show with all the work she's done. She runs a couple podcasts too like TVChinwag with ex-SPN VFX coordinator Ryan Curtis.
Lynn Zubernis & Katherine Larsen, uni professors & authors of the most famous books about Supernatural & its fandom are big shippers (mainly Wincest). Most recently, Lynn Zubernis published Family Don't End with Blood: Cast and Fans on How Supernatural Has Changed Lives - this book is basically "Chicken Soup for the Supernatural Soul" just FYI.
This show wouldn't still be airing if it wasn't for the online infrastructure of support that fans have created for it, and some of the most crucial of them are these fangirls that get a kick out of inserting romance onto their favorite fictional characters.
Hell, you could even cite me. I'm a shipper & I help mod both this sub & /r/fandomnatural. When this subreddit was a toxic cesspool of incivility with a certain top mod years ago, that mod was most definitely (and vocally) not a shipper. I created /r/Fangirls literally based off one of his ranty comments flat-out hating us. And btw I just love all the coded misogyny of it all: tumblrinas, screechy & hysterical (look up the history of that term) fangirls, obsessive with their fantasies bc they write them instead of watching them even though lots-lots-lots of studies have shown that women prefer written erotica so of course we're gonna be the ones to write it for ourselves.
Anyway... maybe you see a lot of fangirls out there consistently urging you to believe a ship is canon, but I've honestly never really seen that. Almost every time I see a shipper citing canon, it's to defend themselves and their viewpoint. There's only two exceptions: when a shipper is posting something onto their own blog about their own perceptions and why. Or when they're in a chill conversation with another person exploring their respective interpretations with interest & respect.
Thank you so much to Dr. Lynn Zubernis, editor of Family Don't End with Blood: Cast and Fans on How Supernatural Has Changed Lives for doing this AMA with us. We hope everyone is as psyched as we are to have this opportunity to speak so directly with you!
In light of this, a few quick reminders:
/r/Fandomnatural does not tolerate outright hate, judgment or transparent trolling. This thread will be moderated along those lines.
Lynn will be spending time & effort to answer your questions: please be respectful (and it's always nice to respond in some way to their answers - even if it's just to thank them).
Finally, for those who are new to our community, visit our FAQ to get a solid gauge on us.
That's it! Again a huge thank you to Lynn and a thanks in advance to all our amazing Starships.
Read about Lynn's books here on her Amazon Author page -- she's promoting Family Don't End With Blood right now. Book summary:
>How a Show, and the Support of Its Fandom, Changed—and Saved—Lives
>Supernatural, a three-time People’s Choice Award winner for Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Show and Tumblr’s 2015 Most Reblogged “Live Action TV,” has made a name for itself by supporting and encouraging its fans to “always keep fighting,” and a memorable line from early in the show’s run, “Family don’t end with blood,” became an inspiring mantra for many who found community in the fandom.
>In 25 powerful chapters written by Supernatural’s actors and fans, including series lead Jared Padalecki, plus special messages from Jensen Ackles, Misha Collins, and Mark Sheppard, Family Don’t End with Blood: Cast and Fans On How Supernatural Has Changed Lives examines the far reach of the show’s impact for more than a decade. Supernatural has inspired fans to change their lives, from getting “sober for Sam” to escaping a cult to pursuing life-long dreams. But fans aren’t the only ones who have been changed. The actors who bring the show to life have also found, in the show and its community, inspiration, courage, and the strength to keep going when life seemed too hard.
>Including essays and special messages from Supernatural ’s cast:
>Jared Padelecki (“Sam Winchester”)
>Jensen Ackles (“Dean Winchester”)
>Misha Collins (“Castiel”)
>Mark Sheppard (“Crowley”)
>Jim Beaver (“Bobby Singer”)
>Ruth Connell (“Rowena MacLeod”)
>Osric Chau (“Kevin Tran”)
>Rob Benedict (“Chuck Shurley aka God”)
>Kim Rhodes (“Sheriff Jody Mills”)
>Briana Buckmaster (“Sheriff Donna Hanscum”)
>Matt Cohen (“Young John Winchester”)
>Gil McKinney (“Henry Winchester”)
>Rachel Miner (“Meg Masters”)
>Collected and edited by Lynn S. Zubernis, a clinical psychologist, professor, and passionate Supernatural fangirl, Family Don’t End with Blood provides an insightful and often uplifting look into the way international fan communities become powerful, positive forces in the lives of so many.
>In keeping with the show’s message to “always keep fighting,” a portion of the proceeds from the book will be donated to RANDOM ACTS, a nonprofit founded by Misha Collins, and AT TITUDES IN REVERSE, whose mission is to educate young people about mental health and suicide prevention.