Bella Ramsey Addresses ‘The Last of Us’ Backlash: “You Don’t Have to Watch It”
Los Angeles, CA – August 30, 2025 – Bella Ramsey, the non-binary actor best known for portraying Ellie in HBO’s critically acclaimed adaptation of The Last of Us, has delivered a candid and unapologetic response to the wave of criticism surrounding the show’s second season. In a recent interview on Entertainment Weekly’s The Awardist podcast, Ramsey urged detractors to simply skip the series if it doesn’t appeal to them, emphasizing that the original video game remains an option for purists.
The second season of The Last of Us, which premiered in April 2025 and adapted elements from the controversial 2020 video game The Last of Us Part II, has been a massive success in terms of viewership and acclaim. HBO reported that the Season 2 premiere outperformed its predecessor, amassing millions of viewers globally and earning widespread praise from critics for its emotional depth, cinematography, and performances. However, not all reactions have been positive. A vocal minority of fans, particularly those deeply invested in the source material, have unleashed backlash over key plot points, including the brutal death of Joel (played by Pedro Pascal) early in the season and the depiction of Ellie’s same-sex relationship with Dina (Isabela Merced).
Social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit have been flooded with complaints, ranging from accusations of “review-bombing” to homophobic remarks and debates over the show’s deviations from the game. Some critics have targeted Ramsey personally, questioning their casting as Ellie due to differences in physical appearance compared to the game’s character design—Ellie in Part II is depicted as more muscular and “ripped,” leading to cruel comments about Ramsey’s physique and even suggestions to recast the role with actors like Cailee Spaeny. This isn’t new for Ramsey; similar toxicity erupted before and during Season 1, with some labeling the actor “miscast” or worse, often laced with misogyny, transphobia, and attacks on their gender identity.
In the podcast, host Gerrad Hall asked Ramsey about the “louder critics” and how they handle the negativity. The 21-year-old actor, who uses they/them pronouns and was diagnosed with autism during the filming of Season 1, explained their strategy for coping: “I tried to steer clear as much as I could, to be honest, because there’s nothing that I can do about it anyway. The show is out. There’s nothing that can be changed or altered. So I’m like, there’s not really any point in reading or looking at anything.” Ramsey stressed that opinions, while valid, don’t impact the production: “People are of course entitled to their opinions. But it doesn’t affect the show, it doesn’t affect how the show continues or anything in any way. They’re very separate things to me. So no, I just don’t really engage.”
When pressed on a direct message to the haters, Ramsey was blunt: “You don’t have to watch it. If you hate it that much, the game exists. You can just play the game again. You don’t have to watch it, but if you do want to watch it, then I hope you enjoy it.” This echoes earlier sentiments from Ramsey, who in a 2023 GQ interview dismissed backlash over the show’s inclusion of LGBTQ+ storylines and characters, stating, “If you don’t want to watch the show because it has gay storylines, because it has a trans character, that’s on you, and you’re missing out.”
The response has sparked a mix of support and further debate online. Fans on X praised Ramsey’s poise, with one post from PlayStation Universe highlighting the quote: “Bella Ramsey Addresses The Last Of Us Season 2 Criticism: ‘If You Hate It That Much, The Game Exists’.” Others, however, called it a “lazy argument,” arguing it dismisses legitimate concerns about adaptation fidelity. Ramsey’s comments come amid reports of a reported 55% viewership drop in later episodes, though HBO has not confirmed these figures, and overall global audiences rose for the season.
Showrunner Craig Mazin has defended Ramsey vigorously, noting in a recent Happy Sad Confused podcast appearance that he warned the actor and their parents about potential scrutiny before casting: “I said, ‘Look, there is a world where nobody cares about this show and it just disappears… but some of it will be negative because that’s how attention works in our world.'” Mazin emphasized focusing on emotional authenticity over visual replication of the game’s CGI character. Co-star Pedro Pascal has also spoken out against the misogyny faced by Ramsey and new cast members like Kaitlyn Dever, calling the backlash “noise and bulls***” in an Associated Press interview.
The Last of Us was renewed for a third season in April 2025, before Season 2 even aired, signaling HBO’s confidence in the series despite the controversy. A premiere date has not been announced, but Ramsey expressed excitement about continuing as Ellie, telling The Hollywood Reporter earlier this year that they’ve grown into the role despite the pressures. The actor deactivated their social media accounts around the Season 2 premiere to avoid the toxicity, a decision they described as inevitable: “I always knew that I’d [deactivate] it one day and never even really wanted to have social media in the first place.”
Ramsey’s handling of the criticism highlights a broader conversation in Hollywood about fan entitlement, online harassment, and the challenges of adapting beloved properties. As one Reddit user noted in a thread discussing the interview, “Everyone who hasn’t played the game loves the show… so there must be some good parts.” With Season 3 on the horizon, Ramsey’s message serves as both a boundary and an invitation: engage positively or step away. For now, the actor remains focused on the craft, proving once again why they were chosen to bring Ellie to life.