Game of Trolls: Why Bella Ramsey, 'The Last of Us', GOT star is facing a wave of online hate

Bella Ramsey, a rising British actor celebrated for her powerful roles in Game of Thrones and The Last of Us, is facing a level of hostility that few young talents ever endure. At just 21, she has delivered performances that won over critics and earned major award nominations. But much of the internet has responded with venom.

This backlash has escalated with her role as Ellie in HBO’s adaptation of the celebrated video game The Last of Us, a character deeply rooted in the game’s LGBTQ+ storyline. Some online communities — particularly far-right and misogynist spaces — have seized on Ramsey’s casting to unleash waves of hate, targeting everything from her gender identity to her looks.

More than just a casting choice
The abuse began in earnest when The Hollywood Reporter announced Ramsey’s casting as Ellie — a move that, for some, was unacceptable from the outset. A thread on Reddit posed the question, “Why is there so much hate for Ramsey?” The answer lies not in her acting, but in who she represents.

Users on X have posted disturbing commentary. One such post read, “Bella Ramsey is one of the ugliest women on planet earth. She is also a mid actress at best, a woke clown and an awful cast for this part. It had the series DOA for me.” — Samantha (@SN1onX), March 8, 2025.

Reddit threads and Instagram posts are littered with altered images of her, replacing her face with cartoonish figures like Quasimodo or Sloth from The Goonies. “I wonder if AI is advanced enough to convincingly replace Bella with Cailee [Spaeny],” one Redditor wrote. Spaeny, a rising star from Alien: Romulus, has now become the supposed “ideal” alternative for trolls.

A pattern of hate against women in power
This is not an isolated case. Ramsey joins a growing list of actresses, including Rachel Zegler ( Snow White), Halle Bailey (The Little Mermaid), and Morfydd Clark (The Rings of Power), who have all been targeted online for stepping into leading roles that challenge traditional beauty or racial norms.

The intensity of the backlash, however, has been supercharged by Ramsey’s public identity. She is non-binary and has openly discussed living with anorexia, mental health challenges, and more recently, autism. In a media landscape where women — especially queer women — are still expected to conform, Ramsey’s very presence feels like a provocation to some.

“Maybe that was a bad idea”: Bella Ramsey
Ramsey tried to stay connected with fans at first. But social media became toxic.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever had a negative reaction to something,” she told The New York Times.

“There would be times I’d find it funny. Then I’d get to the end of a 10-minute scrolling session, put my phone down and realise: Maybe that was a bad idea.”

Eventually, she had enough. Speaking with her Game of Thrones co-star Kit Harington, Ramsey explained her decision:

“But now, I’ve just deactivated my Instagram and my Twitter. I’ve reached a point where I don’t actually need this anymore. People know that a fake account pretending to be me isn’t me.”

“It wasn’t even this big dramatic thing. Nothing really happened. I just got so sick of it, and it was detrimental more than helpful. I feel wonderful.”

What the creators saw
Ramsey wasn’t plucked from obscurity. She was a seasoned young actor with formal training and a major breakthrough as Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones. That role — a fierce leader in a child’s body — made her a fan favourite.

“She was professional, and she was just brilliant,” recalled Liam Cunningham, who played Davos Seaworth in Game of Thrones.

“When somebody comes in and is that good, it makes your job that much easier.”

Mark Mylod, who directed her debut episode, said, “She’s someone we’re going to look back on in 20 years, and she’s going to be ruling Hollywood. She’s just amazing.”

For The Last of Us, more than 100 actors auditioned for Ellie. But when showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin saw Ramsey, the decision was clear.

“She’s naive and she’s a child, but she’s also really wise,” Mazin said.

“She’s super smart and funny and dangerous and scared. Above all, you have to just love her.”

The Last of Us: A show, a character, and a culture war
The second season of The Last of Us pushed the envelope further. It leaned more into Ellie’s romantic relationships — including with another woman. That portrayal, central to the game’s plot, was met with fury online.

Critics called the show “too woke.” For others, a lesbian heroine who isn’t sexualised for the male gaze proved unacceptable.

“If you don’t want to watch the show because it has gay storylines or a trans character, that’s your loss,” Ramsey told The New York Times.

And she meant it. Ramsey, like Ellie, isn’t here to be liked. She’s here to be real.

Ramsey isn’t alone. Kaitlyn Dever, who plays Abby — a controversial, muscular character from the game — is already facing abuse. Pedro Pascal, meanwhile, hasn’t drawn nearly as much scrutiny, despite looking little like Joel from the game.

The problem runs deeper than fandom disappointment. The video game’s second part also faced “review bombing” — coordinated efforts to tank its ratings due to LGBTQ+ and feminist themes. As critics continued to praise the game, audience ratings plummeted.

The disconnect is telling. It’s not about the story. It’s about who gets to tell it — and who gets to lead.

Ramsey, even in silence, sends a message. She continues to act. She continues to speak up when it matters. And in stepping back from social media, she may have found her strongest move yet.

“It’s only recently that I’ve accepted I am Ellie, and I can do it, and I am a good actor,” she said.
“But this will last for a few weeks and then I’ll think I’m terrible again. That’s just the process.”

For someone still so young, she’s shown remarkable clarity. And perhaps — like her character — that’s what frightens people the most.