Pedro Pascal has officially spoken out — and he’s not holding back. The Last of Us star is sending a powerful message to the fandom after a wave of online harassment targeted actress Kaitlyn Dever, who recently joined the hit HBO series in a controversial role.
💥 Fans Turn Against Kaitlyn Over a Fictional Character
Dever, who plays Abby Anderson in Season 2 of The Last of Us, has faced intense backlash, trolling, and even threats from viewers who are upset over her character’s actions — despite the fact that the story closely follows the original video game.
As outrage mounted across social media platforms, Pedro Pascal — who plays Joel — stepped in with a rare and fierce public plea to the show’s audience.
“Kaitlyn is a brilliant actress and a kind, wonderful human being. Please stop the hate. She’s portraying a fictional character in a story that’s already been written.”
😤 Toxic Fandom vs. Storytelling
While passionate fans are nothing new, this particular backlash has raised red flags across the industry. Critics say it highlights the dark side of fandom culture, where actors are often personally attacked for playing characters in complex narratives.
Dever, known for her roles in Booksmart and Unbelievable, has not publicly commented on the hate, but insiders say the response has been “deeply upsetting.”
Pascal’s co-stars and several writers on the show have rallied behind Dever, calling the harassment “disgusting,” “unfair,” and completely out of bounds.
🎮 A Story That Was Always Coming
Fans of The Last of Us video game franchise know that Abby’s role is pivotal, emotional, and controversial by design. The creators — Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin — have stated multiple times that they’re staying true to the original source material.
“We knew people would react strongly to this part of the story. But that’s the point. Great stories challenge you,” Mazin told fans during a recent Q&A.
🛑 Pedro’s Message: Separate Fiction From Reality
Pedro Pascal’s plea cuts to the heart of the issue: empathy and basic human decency. His message, which quickly went viral, has already sparked thousands of supportive replies from fans who are urging the rest of the community to back off and let the story unfold.
“Love the art. Question the story. But don’t attack the people who bring it to life.” — one fan posted in solidarity.
❤️ Fandom, Let’s Do Better
As The Last of Us continues filming its highly anticipated second season, the drama behind the scenes is proving almost as intense as what’s on screen.
And while emotions are high, Pascal’s message serves as a timely reminder: fiction is fiction — and real people deserve respect.