“Creepy,” the popular creepypasta podcast created and hosted by Jon Grilz, has a new home.
Be Afraid Media has acquired full ownership or “Creepy,” including its catalog of over 1,200 episodes, almost all of which have been sourced from and shaped by a community of fan writers.
Grilz will continue being the “Creepy” host and showrunner, and will also lead the Be Afraid Podcast network as Head of Podcasts, overseeing its creative direction and growth.
Per a press release, Be Afraid Media mentioned the current horror climate as an excellent climate for the deal.
“The timing is no accident,” the statement reads. “Horror born on the internet, the urban legends, short stories, and shared online lore known as creepypasta, has moved from the fringes of message boards to the center of the genre, with record-breaking films adapted from online horror communities reshaping what the business considers commercial. ‘Creepy’ has run that exact model in audio for nearly a decade: sourcing original stories from the writers and readers of the creepypasta community on Reddit and beyond, producing them with sound design and a full team of narrators, while paying and crediting the creators behind every episode.”
“When we launched in January, we said building a real horror audio network was job one,” Brad Miska, partner at Be Afraid Media, said in a statement. “‘Creepy’ is how we make good on that, and putting Jon at the helm is how we make sure it keeps growing. The whole industry is suddenly paying attention to stories that started online, and ‘Creepy’ has been the home of that kind of storytelling in audio for years. He’s one of the best in the genre, and now he’s building the network, not just a show.”
“I’ve spent the last decade working on horror podcasts and I’m really looking forward to the chance to take what I’ve learned to help build the Be Afraid Podcast Network to make sure that creators still have a voice while more and more celebrities step into the space drawing attention from the independent podcasters,” Grilz, creator of “Creepy” and new Head of Podcasts for Be Afraid, said in a statement. “I truly believe we are in the golden age of horror and couldn’t be more grateful to be a part of this community.”
“It’s thrilling to welcome ‘Creepy’ to the Be Afraid Podcast Network, and Jon Grilz to a leadership role on our team. Be Afraid connects studios and advertisers with vital audiences in horror and entertainment,” Heather Luttrell, CEO of Be Afraid Media, said in a statement. “Our rapid growth from 16 million fans at launch to more than 30 million today is getting a lot of attention from our film studio clients, who are hungry for more access to these important audiences.”
Be Afraid Media, Inc. launched in January by Bloody Disgusting founder and “Terrifier 3” and “V/H/S” producer Brad Miska, is, per the official description, “a fan-owned horror media company uniting premium genre content, original merchandise, community engagement, and live events under one banner, reaching an audience of more than 30 million horror fans.”
The Be Afraid Podcast Network also includes shows such as “Hometown Ghost Stories,” “ScaredyCast,” “Slasher Radio,” “Kim and Ket Stay Alive… Maybe,” “Kim and Ket Survive the Cellar,” “Girl, That’s Scary,” “Post Mortem with Mick Garris,” “Development Hell,” “Dark Sanctum,” “The Every Day is Halloween Podcast” and “Cult Following.”
