Kaitlyn Dever, the talented actress behind the character of Abby in HBO’s upcoming second season of The Last of Us, faced heightened security measures during filming due to the intense backlash surrounding her polarizing role. Co-star Isabela Merced, who plays Dina in the series, revealed that HBO increased security for Dever as a precautionary measure to protect her from the toxicity directed at Abby. This move came on the heels of the harassment and death threats received by voice actress Laura Bailey, who voiced Abby in the game, upon its release.
According to Merced, Dever demonstrated remarkable bravery in taking on the character, putting in a stellar performance that earned her praise from fans and industry peers alike. “Give her the damn Emmy, honestly,” Merced exclaimed, expressing excitement for fans to witness Dever’s portrayal alongside Bella Ramsey’s Ellie. Merced noted that due to the overwhelming toxicity surrounding Abby’s character, extra help was necessary to keep Dever safe from those who struggled to separate fiction from reality.
The character of Abby Anderson has proven to be a lightning rod for controversy, with some fans unable or unwilling to reconcile with her actions, particularly the killing of Joel, a beloved character from the original game. The game’s narrative choice to subvert expectations and challenge players’ loyalties led to a division within the fanbase, with some critics labeling the character as “despicable” and “murderous.” This backlash extended beyond mere criticism of the character, with some fans targeting voice actress Laura Bailey with hateful messages, including death threats.
Kaitlyn Dever (Image via Getty)
Despite the intense scrutiny, Bailey’s performance as Abby was widely praised for its emotional depth and complexity, earning her the Best Performance award at the 2020 Game Awards. Her win was seen as a significant achievement, given the intense criticism surrounding the character of Abby. As the controversy around Abby’s character is not new, it is not surprising that Dever and HBO took extra precautions to ensure her safety.
With The Last of Us set to return to HBO in 2025, fans are eagerly anticipating the second season, which promises to deliver more of the same emotional depth and complexity that made the first season so compelling.
