It's not a popular characterization though, the popular characterization is just him enjoying murder. Sure there are people like that but I see writers apologize for writing him as not feral enough post canon, and there's an Akechi fan who harasses people for writing him as a "bottom" just writing whump. I'm digressing though, it's the need to act like there's fans doing it wrong and people are getting harassed over him. It's still wrong to harass just because they're not writing him dark enough.