As much as I understand why “death of the author” is a valuable perspective, I don’t agree with and can’t adopt it. I cannot divorce art from it’s context because I cannot divorce anything from it’s context. I think it’s an unrealistic ideal to pretend that things exist outside of their connection with other things, as our understanding comes from web of associations that we build up throughout our life.
It’s useful to not overvalue your assumptions or assume you know anything about an author from their work, but I don’t think the opposite is true. If I know something was made by a person with terrible views, I will always consider how it might factor into their work. Every artist inserts a perspective into what they make, and if the perspective is one I find detestable, I will enjoy it less.
I’m not very sentimental about media, so I don’t see it as “scumbags winning” if they cause me to stop liking it. I don’t mind throwing aside a work I previously enjoyed or otherwise respect, as my past enjoyment is not sacred in any way. I’ll find new meaningful work. At the same time, I’m a weirdo who enjoys hearing spoilers to stories, so I understand if most people can’t live like me.
It’s often the very thing that allowed someone to create something great that leads them down a dark path.