America’s Next Top Model season 1 winner Adrianne Curry has caused quite a stir in the entertainment industry again. This time, the former reality TV star took to Twitter to express her views on the casting of Melanie Lynskey in the post-apocalyptic show, The Last of Us. Her comments triggered a wave of outrage from fans and the show’s leading stars and caused a stir on social media.
Melanie Lynskey Speaks Up On Body Shaming
In The Last of Us, Lynskey portrays Kathleen, the head of a revolutionary group in Kansas City. Lynskey says she was thrilled by the opportunity to portray the character’s descent into a dictatorship as the series progressed. However, the actor’s casting has not been universally praised, with some criticizing her physical features.
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Curry’s remark suggested that Lynskey did not look like a warlord.
“Her body says life of luxury…not post-apocalyptic warlord. Where is Linda Hamilton when you need her?”
Lynskey’s fans were quick to come to her defense, and they did not hold back. Some fans called Curry out for body shaming, while others reminded her that Lynskey did not have to look muscular to play the role of a warlord. Meanwhile, Lynskey gave Curry some food for thought through a tweet on how she is “supposed to be SMART” and not “be muscly.”
Firstly- this is a photo from my cover shoot for InStyle magazine, not a still from HBO’s The Last Of Us. And I’m playing a person who meticulously planned & executed an overthrow of FEDRA. I am supposed to be SMART, ma’am. I don’t need to be muscly. That’s what henchmen are for pic.twitter.com/YwkmkwUdOm
— Melanie Lynskey (@melanielynskey) February 8, 2023
And, of course, Curry deactivated her Twitter account but shared a snarky comment on Facebook claiming that Lynskey had “screen shotted it and posted it for her fans to BULLY” her.
“In criticism of a character I didn’t like in the last of us..the actress screen shotted it and posted it for her fans to BULLY me over an opinion on a FICTIONAL CHARACTER. LOL.”
Lynskey’s role was not one many expected to see her play. The actress defended herself by saying that she was “thrilled” to portray a lady who “in the face of tragedy, got sh*t done”.
“Women, and especially women in leadership positions, are scrutinised endlessly… I was thrilled by the prospect of portraying a lady who, in the face of tragedy, “got sh*t done.”
However, Jeffrey Pierce, Lynskey’s co-star on the show, came in hot with support, suggesting he was very happy with the casting.
Jeffrey Pierce Supports His The Last Of Us Co-Star
Jeffrey Pierce, who voiced Tommy in the popular video game series The Last of Us and plays Perry in the HBO adaptation, came to Lynskey’s defense against Curry’s comments. In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly, he stated that the negative comments showed an “embarrassing lack of understanding of the world.”
“I think it just shows an embarrassing lack of understanding of the world.”
Pierce explained that Hollywood had done a terrible job of creating a mythology around gender aesthetics and power. He commended The Last of Us showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann for turning these narratives on their heads.
“Look, I would say that Hollywood has done a terrible job of creating the mythology of, what is a man? What is a woman? What are these aesthetics that we hold up as power? And so I think that, in this particular story, because of who [showrunners] Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann are, we get to turn those narratives on their head.”
It remains to be seen if The Last of Us delivers on the promises made by its developers. Casting Pierce, Lynskey, and a strong array of performers, The Last of Us looks to be an exciting and introspective look at human resilience in the face of calamity.
There is a lot of excitement surrounding this adaptation of the critically renowned video game series of the same name. It’s not just the show’s technical excellence, though; it’s also the fact that it doesn’t shy away from controversial subjects.
The Last of Us is a show that is not hesitant to take risks, whether in its exploration of the human mind or in its rejection of established gender standards. And with Pierce and Lynskey at the helm, audiences can rest assured that they will be treated to an unforgettable show.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
