Laura Bailey famously voiced Abby in The Last of Us Part II which received mixed reactions from fans. It was one of the most complicated roles the actress has ever done, and truly one of the most unforgettable after she received death threats for portraying the character.
This is not the first time actors have been harassed for the roles they play in video games. Many people who claim to be fans sometimes go too far and forget to separate reality from the virtual world. It’s depressing how this has become a common trend when it should not be.
Voice Actress Laura Bailey Traumatized After Death Threats From The Last Of Us Fans
In a recently released documentary of Grounded II: Making The Last of Us Part II, voice actress Laura Bailey opened up about the hate and assault she received after portraying Abigail ‘Abby’ Anderson.
“Every time I went online, that’s all I saw. Just death threats and threats of violence, and the worst of it, the really hardcore death threats, got passed along, and they made sure that they weren’t anyone that lived close by.”
A bunch of fans hated Abby even before the official game was released due to the leaks that circulated online and saw her kill Joel, which compels Ellie’s revenge plot. Not only did Bailey receive death threats, but people also hated her newborn son.
“They were threatening my son. You know, who was born during all of it. Yeah, it was rough. It was rough. But, you know… More than anything, it just kind of… it taught me to keep a distance. You know?”
In a look-back interview with Game Informer, Bailey recalled how she anticipated the criticism of her character, noting that she did not expect it would get too serious.
“I knew that there would be backlash for sure. I knew that I was going to get some hate. I didn’t anticipate the extent. It was the perfect storm. I think the leaks had a lot to do with it. If your first experience with that had been in the game, and then you kept moving forward, you would have had the growth and understanding.”
Fans were supposed to empathize with Abby as they learned her story, which was the point that many players missed due to the leaks.
“But the leaks came out a couple months in advance; you had months of people forming barriers and forming walls before they were able to understand Abby’s side of it, and therefore a lot of people never were able to.”
Bailey won performance of the year at The Game Awards 2020 for the role of Abby, which she claimed was the most challenging yet fulfilling experience in her career.
Kaitlyn Dever Joins The Last Of Us Season 2 As Abby
The Last of Us Season 2 has also found its actress for the role of Abby. Kaitlyn Dever, known for Booksmart and Justified, has been officially cast for the HBO series. The character is described as “a skilled soldier whose black-and-white view of the world is challenged as she seeks vengeance for those she loved.”
Co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann said in a statement via Variety:
“Our casting process for season two has been identical to season one: we look for world-class actors who embody the souls of the characters in the source material. Nothing matters more than talent, and we’re thrilled to have an acclaimed performer like Kaitlyn join Pedro, Bella and the rest of our family.”
Hopefully, Dever won’t experience the same hate that Laura Bailey faced when she voiced Abby. Meanwhile, viewers can stream The Last of Us Season 1 via HBO.
