The Last of Us' Bella Ramsey has responded to the show's homophobic backlash
The Last of Us lead cast member Bella Ramsey, who plays Ellie in the post-apocalyptic series, has responded to the homophobic backlash the show has continued to receive, calling it "bizarre".
Remaining faithful to the video game the HBO series is based on, The Last of Us has featured two prominent queer storylines, with episode three focusing on the relationship between Frank (Murray Bartlett) and Bill (Nick Offerman), and the most recent episode, episode seven, delving into Ellie's relationship with her best friend Riley (Storm Reid).
The storylines have prompted backlash from a small number of fans who have called out the series for focusing "too heavily" on the storylines.
In an interview with Sky News, 19-year-old Bella touched on the backlash, saying, "The climate emergency and stuff, there are so many more important things to be worried about than two people in love kissing on a screen."
Bella continued to say the storylines already exist in the game and she was proud the show's creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann included them in the series.
"Why wouldn't there be gay storylines in a show like this? I'm so glad that HBO are doing it, and I know it was something that Craig was really passionate about.
"It's in the game, like the Ellie and Riley stories in the game and Bill and Frank is hinted at in the game. I think it's really cool. Just because of the apocalypse doesn't mean that gay people don't exist," she said.
Euphoria's Storm Reid, made her debut in The Last of Us during episode seven, and ahead of her appearance as Ellie's best friend Riley, she addressed the backlash she predicted would come.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly about Ellie and Riley's relationship, Storm said, "It's 2023. If you're concerned about who I love, then I need you to get your priorities straight."
She added: "There's so many other things to worry about in life. Why are you concerned that these young people — or anybody — love each other? Love is beautiful, and the fact that people have things to say about it, it's just nonsense."
Well said Bella and Storm!
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