Dianna Agron Updates: Musings From a Retired Fan Account
“Is Dianna Agron the best actress of her generation? Best actress from 'Glee' hands down.”
It was as abrupt as it was devastating. “We should have an international period of mourning to commemorate,” wrote one user mere hours after it was announced that a Dianna Agron fan account was shutting its “doors” after eight years. “Deciding to end this account is probably the hardest decision I’ve made in a while, but you gotta know when to stop,” the account tweeted in a four-paragraph statement that sent shockwaves through the Twittersphere.
“During these eight years, we tried to make people fall in love with Dianna as we did back then and as we still do. When I think about legacy, I sure hope that’s the one we’re leaving behind. And obviously, trying to get a job every chance we had.”
(Agron’s last acting credit was in 2023 and she currently has no projects in any stage of production.)
Agron Updates was part of a constellation of fan accounts that keep Twitter free from being solely a hellscape. Alongside other juggernauts like Ana de Armas Updates and Club Chalamet, they served as a vital organ in deriving importance and necessity for an app that is seeing its relevance torpedo in the years since oligarchy took hold. In that sense, it’s both a blow for Agron and for El*n M*sk.
But there is precedent here. In 2021, James McAvoy Updates made (in my estimation) the poor decision to close its doors. The account owner wrote:
“I’m done with this account. Thank you for all the laughs, but I have no motivation to keep updating on James. This account was initially to help me let my feelings out and sometimes rant but my antidepressants have started working and they helped me realize I actually do not like James McAvoy as much as I thought I did. If you were looking forward to my updates I apologize. You will have to find another account to follow as I am no longer suffering from mental illness. Xx.”
I asked Dianna Agron Updates if she could relate to the above sentiment.
“Actually, the account helped me a lot to cope with grief after losing my father. It felt like a wonderful distraction and it gave me the serotonin boost I really needed at the time. Sometimes having something else to focus on is all you need, and yeah, I know you can't live running away from feelings but sometimes it's all you need. Keeping an update account is insane and triggers so much anxiety. Only people with mental illness could handle keeping good ones.”
Below, we chat with the 32-year-old Brazilian “C” (“I wanna keep it a mystery,” she tells me) about starting the account, closing up shop and whether she thinks Agron should join the MCU (if asked).
When did you first discover Ms. Agron?
Back in 2009/2010 when I first started watching Glee.
What was it about her that allured you?
She was always so quirky and had this different vibe, like an old soul. I saw her interacting with fans and how she made sure to take the time to talk to everyone and actually meet them. She also used to have this blog where she'd post about upcoming indie artists and I loved her music taste and found so many good artists there.
When did you start the account and why?
Back in 2016. I always discussed starting one with friends because we didn't like how the other fan accounts back then would act. People would help them to find things and wouldn't be credited, they'd crop Dianna's friends and boyfriends out of pics and stuff like that that always felt unnecessary. Delayed it as much as possible till one day I gave up, gathered a couple friends and started the Dianna Agron Updates account.
What’s your favorite post you did?
Love the one joking about how we had no idea about Shiva Baby being up in the Oscar race ‘cause we never had to worry about that before.
What was your most engaged-with post?
The video we posted of Dianna dressed as Princess Diana for a Halloween party.
Have you ever had any interactions with Dianna?
Not me personally. The other people I started the account with have met her a couple times. She once accidentally liked one of our posts on IG so not sure if she was stalking to know where she was or just clicked the wrong thing. Both her mom and her stepdad follow our IG account, always watch the Instagram stories and sometimes like the pics, so I'm pretty sure she is aware.
Do you see other similar accounts for celebrities as competition or is it the more the merrier?
The more the merrier. Sometimes, when it was with other Dianna accounts, it would feel like a competition to see who'd post faster or get more retweets, but I guess that's just because I'm super competitive. I enjoy talking to other fan accounts, sharing tips about getting pics and info. I feel that it can only help; this feeling of being a community is really powerful.
Why did you decide to end the account?
For the past couple years, it felt like we're living in Groundhog Day, posting about Dianna attending the same events, doing the same things. It wasn't as exciting anymore and it's deeply time-consuming. I'd spend all day checking Instagram, picture forums and checking her name on Google trying to find something to post.
Do you think you've been successful in helping her get jobs?
[Laughs] No, but I was successful in getting more people trying to get her jobs, so maybe someday it might work.
You mentioned the account becoming "something bigger than me." Can you elaborate on that?
It became really popular in the past year. We'd be mentioned on podcasts such as Who? Weekly, people would talk about "that one account trying to get Dianna Agron a job" and during the Twitter/X block in Brazil, we were mentioned in a couple articles.
Can you talk about your strategy for running the account? How did you keep up on all things Dianna?
It's a chaotic scheme. I'd follow something like 600 accounts on IG of friends and acquaintances of Dianna and check all their posts for any glimpse of her. I'd check celebrity forum pics, Twitter search, Google, who she was following on IG and who was following her.
You wrote how the account gave you a lot, but cost you so much. Care to elaborate?
It deeply affected my relationship back in 2019/2020 because sometimes it would feel like the account was all I cared about, so my ex-girlfriend hates Dianna to this day! I never thought about giving interviews in my life and it happened a lot in this past year because of the account. It also improved my English in ways no class could ever do. I've met some really nice people and listened to so many great stories, about Dianna and not about Dianna. I really loved having this connection with other fans.
Do you think Dianna's career is in a good place?
I think it's in a place she feels comfortable with. Glee was a meteoric success and gave all of them enough money to only do things they feel like doing.
Do you think Dianna deserved a meatier role in Burlesque?
Oh, she sure did. A song, maybe.
What about in Shiva Baby?
She was amazing in Shiva Baby and personally, I don't think she looked as pretty in any other role. She was glowing in that movie. Love how it did great, hands down my favorite movie she was ever in and the whole team behind it was kind enough to get us involved in promoting it.
Dianna went brunette for her last film, As They Made Us, and received much praise (the NYT called it "her film"). Do you want to see more brunette Dianna moments?
100%. She could rock any hair color.
Do you think Dianna would be a good Bond girl?
She'd be amazing both as Bond and as a Bond Girl. I hope this message gets to them. Her British accent is one of her best works.
Should Dianna join the MCU…if asked?
God no. Terrible fanbase. Don't want her anywhere near them.
Has it been challenging seeing Dianna's work schedule quiet over the last few years or have you found that freeing?
I've thought about it. It was boring at some points, but I think I'd go crazy if had to cover up a lot by myself, because since the pandemic it's been mostly me running the account.
What do you make of the incessant gay rumors Agron's fielded for years?
I used to make fun, but sometimes it felt like people were crossing lines. Like it's ok joking online about it, but commenting on her friends’ pics felt like a little too much, you know? We rarely get content from Dianna herself, so I was always so scared that if people were doing it to her friends, they'd stop posting about her as well or at least feel like they couldn't post everything.
Is Dianna Agron the best actress of her generation?
Best actress from Glee hands down. She could be one of the best of her generation… if she wanted to.