The Last of Us: Bella Ramsey says Homophobic Viewers should “Get Used To It.” Bella Ramsey, who identifies as non–binary and currently plays the character Ellie in the HBO series “The Last of Us,” has a message for homophobes.
In a recent interview with GQ UK Magazine, Ramsey discussed the backlash the series has received due to its inclusion of queer storylines. Despite the criticism, Ramsey remains unsympathetic to those who want their media to remain exclusively straight.
The third episode of “The Last of Us” received criticism from some reviewers who attempted to review-bomb the show on aggregate social sites such as Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes. Review bombing is when people give a low or high rating to a piece of media to make a point. In this case, the reviewers expressed their homophobia and hatred toward the show’s queer storylines.
Bella Ramsey says Homophobic Viewers should “Get Used To It.”
Ramsey revealed that she had visited the writers’ room for “The Last of Us” Season 2 and expected the show to follow the game’s storyline closely. This means that Ramsey’s character Ellie will most likely have a relationship with Dina, a woman she was romantically involved with in the game. Ramsey hopes that HBO will stay true to Ellie’s sexual orientation in the games.
“The Last of Us” has always represented the queer community, with Ellie’s sexuality being confirmed in the game. The game also features other queer characters such as Dina, Bill, Frank, and Lev, a trans character introduced in “The Last of Us Part II.” Ramsey acknowledges that the inclusion of queer characters could spark controversy, but she remains unafraid.
“I’m not particularly anxious about it. “I know people will think what they want to think. But they’re gonna have to get used to it. 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. It isn’t gonna make me afraid. I think that comes from a place of defiance.”
In conclusion, Ramsey remains confident in the show’s portrayal of queer characters and is unafraid of the backlash it may receive. Her defiance is a reminder that inclusivity is essential and that representation in media is crucial. Ramsey’s unwavering support for queer storylines is fresh air in a world where bigotry and hatred can still thrive.
