Porygon Effect

The effect that happens in a situation where an innocent bystander is accused and punished for committing an action or crime that they did not make because the real perpetrator is too famous or essential to be punished.

This is referenced by the infamous incident where an episode of Pokémon was aired in Japan and gave numerous kids seizures due to rapidly flashing lights, caused by an attack from Pikachu. Since Pikachu was and still is the poster boy for the Pokémon franchise, Porygon, the starring Pokémon of the episode, was blamed and punished instead despite not being responsible for it.

Person 1: Why am I being punished for something I didn't do? It was clearly Jimmy's fault!

Person 2: It's the Porygon Effect; Jimmy's too important to be punished.

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