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Crime News

Is Dennis From 'It's Always Sunny' Actually A Serial Killer? 

In the show "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," Dennis Reynolds once told his sister he wanted to turn her skin into a lampshade like serial killer Ed Gein.

By Gina Tron
Dennis Its Always Sunny Fx

Dennis Reynolds, one of the main characters on “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” is narcissistic, despicable, and (of course) fun to watch, but could he actually be a serial killer?

YouTuber Ryan Hollinger laid out the fan theory in a 10-minute video three years ago. And while he concludes in the end that he doesn’t think Reynolds (played by Glenn Howerton) is a serial killer, he did list several of Reynolds' suspicious characteristics.

He cited Reynolds’ love of tools ⁠— zip ties, duct tape, and gloves⁠ — as well as his habit of keeping tapes, or trophies, of his sexual encounters with women.

Hollinger even compared Reynolds to serial killer Ted Bundy, noting that they are both attractive, charming, and manipulative. 

“There is no denying Dennis’ physical attraction and charisma,” he states in the video.

He also added that Reynolds has delusions of grandeur and that he becomes aggressive when he doesn’t get his way.

To boot, Reynolds once said that he believes a woman’s head in a freezer is a “preservation of love, forever and ever,” according to an Uproxx piece about the theory from last week. The outlet noted that Reynolds once told his own sister, “I swear you would be of more use to me if I skinned you and turned your skin into a lampshade or fashioned you into a piece of high-end luggage. Add you to my collection.”

That’s a nod to murderer Ed Gein, who made a lampshade using the skin from one of his victims.

On the show, Reynolds has actually threatened to skin other characters more than once.

Screen Rant compiled a list of Reynolds’ most sociopathic quotes earlier this year, and Hidden Remote created a list of moments that prove he is "definitely a serial killer."

In a Rolling Stone interview from last week with “Always Sunny” creator and co-star Rob McElhenney, the interviewer asked, “At some point, do you feel you have to more directly confront the question of whether Dennis is a serial killer? Or have you gone as close as you’re comfortable?”

“I think we’re about as close to it as we all feel comfortable," McElhenney replied. "We’re probably toeing a line that we have to be really careful about.”

Whether or not Reynolds is a murderer, we can all agree his character, at the least, lacks empathy.

“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia" returns for its 14th season on September 25.