The last of us part 2 It has been so controversial since its release date that the developers and talent behind the game have been attacked and threatened by it. Over the weekend, co-director Neil Druckmann shared a small snippet of horrible messages he received about the game.
In response to all the evil, Naughty Dog issued a statement condemning “harassment or threats directed at our team and cast.” The message says: “Your safety is our top priority, but we must all work together to eradicate this type of behavior and maintain a constructive and compassionate discourse.”
The screenshots published by Druckmann cover a whole range of anti-Semitism, death threats, transphobia, and more. “I hope a real fan kills you,” says one message. Druckmann said that while it’s fine with people discussing why they love or hate the game, some of those feelings are expressed in a “vile, hateful and violent” way.
You can love or hate the game and share your thoughts about it. Unfortunately, many of the messages I have received are vile, hateful, and violent. Here are just a handful of them (she feels it’s important to expose them). Activation warning: transphobic, homophobic, antisemitic, etc. pic.twitter.com/uR9vpGgYQa
– Neil Druckmann (@Neil_Druckmann) July 5, 2020
Druckmann is not the only target for fans. Laura Bailey, the voice behind Abby, a new character in The last of us part 2, has also received messages of hate and violence about the horror game. Bailey shared some of the trash she received, including messages like “I’m going to find where you live and kill you.” Bailey called the messages “overwhelming.”
Man. I try to post only positive things here … but sometimes this gets a little overwhelming. I deleted some of the words because, you know, spoilers.
Marginal note. Thanks to all the people who sent me positive messages to balance it. It means more than I can say .❤️ pic.twitter.com/kGyULWPpNu
– Laura Bailey (@LauraBaileyVO) July 3, 2020
Why all the vitriol? There are a couple of reasons, albeit none, that justify people going overboard this way. Some fans are upset by The last of us part 2The story, which, without spoiling anything, asks players to reconsider the impact Joel and Ellie have had on those around them in the first game.
Abby, and by extension Laura Bailey, has been the most visible target of this hatred, because the game asks you to put yourself in her shoes. But after going through a full game like Ellie and Joel, some fans have a hard time playing as someone so diametrically opposed to people they consider heroes.
Much of this aversion has been masked as a “debate” over whether or not Abby’s amateur physicist might be possible in the post-apocalypse, with some mistakenly labeling her as a trans woman. While friends say As the problem lies in the game as a whole, a disproportionate amount of criticism surrounding Abby focuses on her body and not on what Naughty Dog did with the story.
Although we welcome critical discussion, we condemn any form of harassment or threats directed at our team and cast. Your safety is our top priority, but we must all work together to eradicate this type of behavior and maintain constructive and compassionate speech. pic.twitter.com/eoq4t1ITnh
– Naughty Dog (@Naughty_Dog) July 5, 2020
PlayStation World Studies Director Hermen Hulst also shared his two pennies on the harassment and stated, “As unfortunate as these responses are, keep in mind that they represent a small minority in our industry.” Bailey’s tweet, in particular, generated a series of responses in support of the video game industry and beyond. “His performance in the game was an absolute revelation and transformed me,” said Ashley Johnson, the voice actor for Ellie.
I love you @LauraBaileyVO. Your performance in the game was an absolute revelation and transformed me. It was an honor to be on that stage with you. So much love and adoration.
– Ashley Johnson (@TheVulcanSalute) July 4, 2020
It bothers me when something happens to a character or story that you love and don’t like, but this is blatantly unfortunate. It seems that people confuse fiction with reality in reality AND in fiction. Grow up. https://t.co/80mdjpl7od
– James Gunn (@JamesGunn) July 3, 2020
They are few, and when they write these things, they feel very little.
WE ARE many, and when we write these things, we feel A LOT.
Your work was brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. I couldn’t have loved your acting more. You’re GOOD, Bailey. You are good.
– Craig Mazin (@clmazin) July 3, 2020
Neil Druckmann, for his part, said on Twitter that despite all the anger and harassment caused by the The last of us part 2“If the Lord somehow gave me a second chance to make this game, I would do it again.”
