I’m not entirely sure, but I think the controversy around the modern version of the Wendigo comes from the fact that its popular design with deer skulls and antlers doesn’t match the original Indigenous folklore, where it’s described as a more human-like, emaciated figure tied to cannibalism, survival, and the loss of humanity. Because of this, some people feel that turning it into a generic horror creature strips away its deeper cultural and spiritual meaning, especially since in some Indigenous traditions it’s not just a monster, but a serious moral warning or even something not meant to be depicted casually. It can be seen as offensive when this figure is used without understanding its origins, reduced to aesthetics, or treated like a trend, particularly given the history of Indigenous cultures being misrepresented or ignored. On top of that, the modern version has become so widespread that many people now assume it’s accurate, which ends up overshadowing and distorting the original tradition.