Why Security Precautions Were Increased for Abby on The Last of Us TV Series
Filming is currently underway for The Last of Us Season 2, and it appears that the production has implemented heightened security measures for actress Kaitlyn Dever, who plays Abby. The upcoming season closely follows the narrative of The Last of Us Part II, a game that elicited strong reactions from players due to its storyline.
Before delving into spoilers, it’s important to note that The Last of Us Part II sparked controversy even before its release due to leaks revealing key plot points and critical scenes. This led to discontent among players, with some petitioning for a rewrite of the game, while others engaged in review bombing and directed abusive behavior towards Naughty Dog and the individuals involved in its creation.
A significant portion of the negativity was targeted at voice actress Laura Bailey, who acknowledged that Abby’s character was designed to be polarizing. Despite efforts from Naughty Dog to address toxicity in the gaming community, Isabela Merced, who portrays Dina in the TV series, highlighted the ongoing hostility towards the fictional character:
“There are so many strange people in this world because there are people that genuinely hate Abby, who is not a real person. Just a reminder, not a real person. And Kaitlyn had to be extra secured by security when it came to the filming of this.”
While Merced praised Dever’s resilience and positive attitude, there are concerns about the potential backlash Dever may face post the airing of The Last of Us season 2, especially considering the prolonged death threats directed at Bailey following the release of The Last of Us Part II.