It still has diehard fans because humans are ultimately just animals who can be psychologically manipulated by those who understand what makes them tick. What all of this has taught me is just how susceptible everyone is. All humans have these vulnerabilities just waiting to be exploited by some power hungry psychopath.
Just a speculation. Some individuals have personalities that thrive in the presence of such negative sentiments against them. They are probably so afraid of being forgotten that they actively seek such sentiments.