Woman who voices video game character gets death threats

One of the voice actors behind a popular video game released last month has become the target of vicious death threats from deranged fans who aren’t happy about the plot or a particular character’s physique.

In June, Sony released the PlayStation 4 survival game The Last of Us Part 2, the sequel to the 2013 hit game The Last of Us — and in addition to being widely praised by critics, it also became a massive bestseller across North America and Europe.

But some fans of the original are displeased with the sequel and a new character named Abby in particular, and have been sending the voice actor who plays her, Laura Bailey, vile, hateful messages including violent, descriptive death threats. 

New release: In June, Sony released the PlayStation 4 survival game The Last of Us Part 2, the sequel to the 2013 hit game The Last of Us

Violent: Some players are unhappy and have been sending death threats to actress Laura Bailey (pictured), who provided the voice of a particular character they don't like

Violent: Some players are unhappy and have been sending death threats to actress Laura Bailey (pictured), who provided the voice of a particular character they don’t like

Upset: She tweeted about some of the awful DMs on July 3

 Upset: She tweeted about some of the awful DMs on July 3

Disgusting: In addition to telling her they want to kill her, one said he hoped her parents died of cancer

Disgusting: In addition to telling her they want to kill her, one said he hoped her parents died of cancer

The original game followed Joel, a smuggler, and Ellie, a teenage girl, who live in a post-apocalyptic United States. 

In the sequel, the character of Abby is introduced. According to Polygon, Abby has become the target of hate from players who aren’t happy with the direction the game has taken.

Some are singling her out because they dislike the plot — and her part in it — while others are angry about her buff body, which they argue wouldn’t be possible in a post-apocalyptic world. Some are even mislabeling her as transgender with hateful intentions. 

But rather than leaving their frustrations in the game, and aimed toward an entirely fictional character, some angry critics have been targeted the actress who voices Abby.

Condemnation: After Laura tweeted about the messages, she received words of support

Condemnation: After Laura tweeted about the messages, she received words of support

On July 3, Laura Bailey took to Twitter to share some of the awful messages she has received, posting screengrabs of tweets and DMs.

‘Man. I try to only post positive stuff on here… but sometimes this just gets a little overwhelming,’ she wrote. ‘I blacked out some of the words cuz, ya know, spoilers. Side note. Thank you to all the people sending me positive messages to balance it out. It means more than I can say.’

In the screengrabs, several attackers called her names and sent death threats.

‘I’m going to kill you because you [spoiler] in The Last of Us Part 2,’ wrote one.

‘I’m going to find where you live and slaughter you for what you did to [spoiler],’ wrote another. ‘Mark my f***ing words.’

One told her he would ‘stab’ Laura, while another told her to ‘go f***’ herself’ and called her a ‘dumb abby b****.’

Another target: The game's co-director Neil Druckmann has also received death threats

Another target: The game’s co-director Neil Druckmann has also received death threats

Fragile fans: Commenters have DMed him with anti-Semitic and homophobic comments and threats

Fragile fans: Commenters have DMed him with anti-Semitic and homophobic comments and threats

Toxic: Once said he hoped COVID-19 killed the whole studio

Another said he wanted to 'smash your f***ing brains out with a gulf club [sic]'

Toxic: Once said he hoped COVID-19 killed the whole studio, while another said he wanted to ‘smash your f***ing brains out with a gulf club [sic]’

‘I hope your parents die for a hard cancer,’ wrote another particularly vicious person. ‘I will find you and I will kill your kid.’

Fortunately, Laura’s tweet was met with scores of supportive responses from horrified fans, friends, and colleagues.

But remarkably, she isn’t the only person associated the game who is getting death threats.

Co-director Neil Druckmann shared screengrabs of his own on July 5.

‘You can love or hate the game and share your thoughts about it. Unfortunately too many of the messages I’ve been getting are vile, hateful, & violent,’ he wrote.

Several told Neil to die, with one writing that he hoped ‘COVID-19 kills your whole tocix feminist studio.’

‘F*** you stupid cuck you ruined one of the best games made you stupid piece of s***,’ wrote another. ‘The only people that deserve to go to hell more than you are those disgusting trans pieces of human trash you f***ing b****. [sic]’

Several attacked him with anti-Semitic slurs, anti-Semitic cartoons, homophobic slurs, and more profanity — all because they didn’t like his video game.

‘I wish to put you in one game and smash your f***ing brains out with a gulf club, then spit on it, just like what you did in the game, you heartless preak [sic].’

Meanwhile, Naughty Dog, the game’s developers, shared their own message condemning the vitriol.

‘Although we welcome critical discussion, we condemn any form of harassment or threats directed towards our team and cast. Their safety is our top priority, but we must all work together to root out this type of behavior and maintain a constructive and compassionate discourse,’ the company wrote.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk