Definition: A public feud between narcissistic figures where performative outrage and genuine ego-driven hostility blur into one chaotic spectacle. Each side crafts drama to manipulate tribal loyalties and boost their personal brand, making the conflict feel both artificially staged and authentically messy.
The fallout often includes real-world consequences like stock dips or reputational burns, yet the core motivation remains harvesting viral attention. Truth becomes collateral damage in this high-stakes game of image warfare, leaving observers exhausted by the calculated chaos.
Example:
The CEO’s tweetstorm attacking a rival sparked performative outrage among fans, manipulating tribal loyalties purely for viral attention while their stocks wobbled.
Their escalating ego-driven hostility on podcasts felt like calculated chaos, damaging both reputations as truth vanished in the scramble for clicks and clout.