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Alysa Liu just made history at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, becoming the first American woman in 24 years to win Olympic gold in singles figure skating. The 20-year-old from Oakland delivered a near-flawless free skate on February 19 that left no room for doubt.
But before the podium moment could even sink in, Liu had already set the anime fandom ablaze with a few words in a TikTok interview with Overtimewbb.
When asked about her favorite anime, Liu rattled off five titles without hesitation: Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, Attack on Titan, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, and Soul Eater, in no particular order.
She also mentioned that a new Chainsaw Man chapter had dropped that same day and was spotted carrying a Pochita plush during the interview, making it immediately clear this wasn’t a casual “oh yeah I watch anime sometimes” moment. This woman actively keeps up with the manga. Gold medal in one hand, Pochita in the other.
She said the rumbling was justified, and the internet lost it
The real spark came when the conversation turned to Attack on Titan. Asked whether she thought Eren Yeager was justified in triggering the Rumbling, Liu answered simply: yes. That one word was enough to reopen one of the most divisive debates in anime history.
For those unfamiliar, the Rumbling was Eren’s decision to unleash the Wall Titans to wipe out 80% of humanity outside Paradis Island, a global genocide driven by his desire to protect his people and eliminate any future threat against them.
It’s the kind of storyline that split the Attack on Titan fandom completely in two, and it’s still unresolved to this day. Eren won Best Antagonist at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards, which tells you everything you need to know about how complicated his legacy is.
Reactions on X were immediate. “Ain’t no way she’s a Yeagerist,” wrote one user. Others rallied behind her. The Olympic gold ended up being the least controversial thing she did that week.
A top five that shows she actually watches anime
Beyond the Eren discourse, Liu’s list itself caught attention for its range. Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man make sense for anyone drawn to dark, high-octane action with emotionally complex characters. But Madoka Magica, a series that completely deconstructs the magical girl genre and hits harder than expected, began airing when Liu was just three years old.
Soul Eater, the gothic action series following students paired with living weapons, started when she was six. She clearly went back for both, which earns serious respect from any longtime fan.
Liu also mentioned she plans to catch up on Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2 now that the Olympics are behind her. Honestly, same.
So, was Eren justified or not? The debate has been going on for years and Alysa Liu just threw gasoline on it, now it’s your turn. Drop your take in the comments below. Yeagerists and anti-Rumbling fans, this is your arena.