Home Gaming Naughty Dog has condemned any toxic harassment for the cast and crew of The Last of Us Part II

Naughty Dog has condemned any toxic harassment for the cast and crew of The Last of Us Part II

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Speaking as someone who would describe themself as an impassioned fan of a great many things, death-threat mailing “fans” are one of the most toxic, low-life groups of folks one could ever have the misfortune of meeting on the internet. Actors and voice actors alike receiving death threats due to their performances in movies and games…well, it’s the sort of ridiculous thing Stephen King wrote about in Misery, just way more frustrating. The latest case of this occurring is with acclaimed voice actress Laura Bailey for her incredible performance as Abby in The Last of Us Part II, a character that’s upset a small band of people because her muscular physique gained from several years of revengercise and a proper diet plan was too much for them to comprehend.

Bailey took to Twitter to share some screenshots of some of the harassment she’s received from the internet children, due to some of the actions her character in the game commits. It got so bad that Naughty Dog, developer of The Last of Us Part II, released a statement about the issue:

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 behaviour and maintain a constructive and compassionate discourse.

Which is just a more delicate way of telling these particularly toxic shitheads to get stuffed.

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Neil Druckmann, director of The Last of Us Part II, personally condemned the comments, saying on Twitter,:

As the people that propagate this kind of hate would say, how stunning and brave! I hope these gamers get the mental help they so clearly need. Unfortunately this is now the cost of making popular entertainment that challenges conventions. Laura doesn’t deserve any of this.

He’s totally right, of course. People that do this kind of thing really need to go to therapy and get help for their toxic emotions and mindsets because it’s pretty damn embarrassing to think stuff like this is okay. 

Last Updated: July 6, 2020

48 Comments

  1. Gerhard

    July 6, 2020 at 13:31

    My word! This is really sad to see grown-ups behave like this. I finished the game last week after almost 40 hours. What a wonderful experience and there is no reason to hate on this game.
    Not everyone will like the direction the story takes, but I found it inspiring and certainly asks a few uncomfortable questions.

    Reply

  2. MaSeKind

    July 6, 2020 at 13:31

    What’s kinda funny is the Last of Us controversy stuff has been in the news longer than the BLM protests were. People always say stop feeding the trolls, maybe we can stop feeding these outrage crazies as well.

    On a side note, I made a mistake of watching one YT video from a channel that does these OUTRAGE!!! videos about stuff like this and now all I see is more of those videos. And I’m sure that’s what is fueling these dumpster fires. Sad times all around man.

    Reply

    • Son of Banana Jim

      July 6, 2020 at 20:04

      Isn’t it interesting what gets elevated in the news cycle and what doesn’t?

      Reply

  3. Llama In The Rift

    July 6, 2020 at 13:48

    Crazy how western culture might burn this planet to the ground someday over trivial issues.

    Anybody got room for a +1 in their bunker? Just making sure…..Never know, Rockstar might release GTA 6 with the main character being trans being the end of us all.

    Reply

    • Son of Banana Jim

      July 6, 2020 at 20:03

      Probably….. but I’d still rather have western culture though, just think about the alternative? Slavery still exist in Mauritania, homosexuality is illegal in most of the non-western world, women couldn’t drive in Saudi until very recently, and in the far east, Chinese workers will literally commit suicide because their working hours are so insane and meanwhile in Japan, men would rather find love in a manga or anime character rather than an actual person who you can share all your hopes and feelings with.

      At least, we have the potential option of a trans character in GTA 6, and the freedom to be in support of or against it.

      Now that is freedom!

      Reply

      • Llama In The Rift

        July 7, 2020 at 09:48

        Nah completely agree on things like basic human rights, complete freedom is what mots humans drive towards and those who have it cant grasp how privileged they are, then you get those who have it and hate on change or try to reject it, blueprint on how trolls are born XD

        Reply

        • Son of Banana Jim

          July 7, 2020 at 16:26

          It’s probably more a case of being extremely sheltered, I mean we have three (actually two) generations in the West that have grown up without the constant fear of mutual destruction hanging over their heads. Sure, Islamic terrorism is a thing, but I don’t think it has the same impact as the knowledge that just across the ocean (either east or west) there’s a nation that could unleash a barrage of nuclear missiles and everything you know or loved would be consumed by waves of fire.

          If you grew up in the developed / first world the freedoms you have, many of us even in west-adjacent developing country like South Africa can only dream about. I mean we have a country where the vast majority of our citizens are living in or near poverty with pitiful social grants to keep them alive, whereas in Europe, Canada, the UK, and even parts of the US, you can exist extremely comfortably on government assistance. You have to game the system, and if you’re in the US, you definitely have to game the system, but it’s not R250 or something ridiculous – like we have here, or a government pension that makes a mockery of a life spent working.

          That sort of pampering, and a few other social ills have really left them with the scourge of pampered, child-like millenials and the potential scourge of Gen Z mutants either becoming right-wing authoritarians or left-wing authoritarians.

          Reply

  4. MechMachine

    July 6, 2020 at 12:31

    Strange behavior indeed. Being somewhat reserved about this game. I decided to buy it and play it for myself. Even though I knew about all the terrible things that Naughty dog had done. Well, being told by a bunch of people why the game is bad and actually playing it for myself yielded a completely different result.

    I am about halfway through Abby’s story. I only play games like this over weekends. Not enough time to really get engrossed in the week. The more controversial parts have been blown way out of proportion. Seriously. Sure, it wasn’t pleasant to see some of the choices they made, I feel they could have gone another way, but that comes down to artistic vision, I guess.

    It makes me question the very credibility of the people I watch on YouTube and makes it painfully clear that there is no reason to react the way they have. The game has more going for it, so much so that it actually supersedes the negative, in-fact it makes it seem banal and trivial. A systemic hate train that people just got on to for clicks on those YouTube videos.

    I do get a little over it after 6 hours of gaming, it’s a dark game, but once I am rested and fresh, I am ready for the next 6 hours. I felt like a moron for buying into the hate train before trying the game myself. I am enjoying it, marveling at the visuals, and consumed by the story. The critics of this game have some valid points, but they are menial. That’s all. It’s an incredible journey, Not as good as the first, But still worth the price of admission.

    And the abuse being leveled at an actress playing a virtual character because of the choices the writers made, well, Darwinism at it’s finest right there.

    Reply

    • Son of Banana Jim

      July 6, 2020 at 16:55

      Thing is, once you hand over that R1000 you have to find the good amongst the bad. It’s about searching for the ruby amongst the dust. It’s completely natural. I would probably be doing the exact same thing, jumping through those hoops, and saying things like “well, the story isn’t great, but damn the visuals are impressive”

      It’s why most of us can stomach a bad game or a movie, because we paid for it. Some of us will stick with it, and even complete it, because we’ve spent our money on it. The height of privilege is having so much disposable income that you can throw it at bad games, play 10 minutes and then move onto the next one. How many people can do that now during this age of Covid? If you can, you’re one of the lucky few sods. The rest of us, can’t we have to be extremely critical of what we consume, and whether or not it’s value for money (granted the latter is subjective, and some people can find value in money in even a trash fire like the Last Jedi… poor sods)

      I’ll be waiting for this one to land on PSN+. They’re not getting a cent from me, because a) I don’t want to feel obligated to complete it and b) I don’t want to waste money on trash.

      As for the abuse levelled against the voice actors?

      That’s just plain silly, the real target is that fool, Neil Druckmann, the corporation that is Sony and Naughty Dog as an entity.

      Sent Neil all your love, internet. But please leave the poor worker ants alone.

      It’s also why I hate the BLM protests in the US, because the only people who are being harmed are Average Joe Public and his family. It’s his/her shops that are being looted, their property being damaged and their safety that’s being put into jeopardy. If you’re an antifa/BLM protestor go to the white house. Go sit on the lawn – hopefully the tanks will roll over you, maybe the federal government will give you the gitmo treatment so that you can really larp as Nelson Mandela, but at least you’re not harming the average Joe Public.

      Reply

      • Gavin Mannion

        July 6, 2020 at 17:19

        Stop drinking the koolaid Jim… Tanks can’t roll down Washington DC streets, it’ll destroy the infrastructure. Which is why your lord in orange can’t have his military parade. I expect better of your trolling I really do

        https://media0.giphy.com/media/UsOoz5EYqRxXW/giphy.gif

        Reply

        • Son of Banana Jim

          July 6, 2020 at 17:19

          They wouldn’t even try it, antifa are a bunch of cowards. That’s why they’re mostly concentrated in democrat strongholds – who eagerly bend the knee to their shenanigans.

          Basically all they’ve done is diminished the democrats in the eyes of the US public and virtually ensured that Biden gets a beating in November. The minute when Durkhan allowed CHAZ to exist in Seattle, it was the minute she sealed her own fate. Now look at the mess she has on her hands, numerous cases of violence, rape, shootings and recently a bunch of those idiots getting run over by a poor black driver. And, she only demolished CHAZ, after a few of those bright sparks went to protest at her house. How idiotic can you get? You have a mayor who was protecting you, calling your terrorism, the summer of love, and you go and poop outside her door.

          Idiotic!!

          Reply

          • Gavin Mannion

            July 6, 2020 at 17:19

            breathe Jim… breathe…

            Trump will lose and the world will be fine. You will still have a safe place on your weird reddit forums 😉

          • Son of Banana Jim

            July 6, 2020 at 17:29

            Reddit? Oh god no… Reddit is an even more retarded version of Twitter.

            PS: Trump will only lose if Kanye runs as an independent, Gavin. But wouldn’t that be a thing, the first lady, Kim Kardashian….

            2020 has truly been a fantastic year.

        • Son of Banana Jim

          July 6, 2020 at 17:29

          Also, game sales are dropping nearly 80% per week. This week’s numbers have been atrocious. And, stores refuse to take copies of the game back….

          If this game reaches the heights of the original game (even with a release on PS5) I’ll be like Kervyn and eat my pineapple and ham covered hat because Snyder is releasing the Snyder cut. https://media1.giphy.com/media/26ufdASKRfsdzYvug/giphy.gif

          Reply

          • Gavin Mannion

            July 6, 2020 at 17:29

            What stores are refusing to take copies back? If the games been opened and it’s been a few days of course they won’t take it back.. it’s a single player game.

            An 80% sales drop is also perfectly normal for AAA games as people buy it massively over the first 2 weeks… you know this Jim… you really do, so why act ignorant in public? It’s weird dude

          • Son of Banana Jim

            July 6, 2020 at 17:29

            Nope, a normal drop if you compare to other AAA games ranges between 40 and 50%. All it means is that the Last of Us 2 was heavily front-loaded with preorders, and then dropped like a stone and is continuing to drop.

            And yes, stores are refusing to take copies back in both the US, UK and even in Germany.

      • MechMachine

        July 6, 2020 at 17:29

        It worries me that my honest opinion upsets you this much. How I choose to spend my money is not your concern. Why even bring up Covid as a reason for anything ?

        And what did I say that invokes images of BLM in your mind ? Or looting or Mandela ? I don’t like Antifa, but they have nothing to do with this game.

        This is honestly the most irrational thing you’ve ever said.

        Reply

        • Gavin Mannion

          July 6, 2020 at 17:35

          Yeah I think he’s starting to lose it too… to much QAnon rots the brain

          Reply

          • Son of Banana Jim

            July 6, 2020 at 17:35

            lol, calm down Gavin.

          • Gavin Mannion

            July 6, 2020 at 17:35

            I’m perfectly calm Jimbo, I find your public rantings amusing as long as you stay on the right side.

            Just a bit sad seeing how conspiracy’s and derangement really can melt the brain. It’s been eye opening watching

          • Son of Banana Jim

            July 6, 2020 at 17:40

            I haven’t even been posting here in ages, what are you even on about? It sounds like you’re projecting onto me. What weird websites have you been frequenting?

          • Gavin Mannion

            July 6, 2020 at 17:40

            I meant over the years. You swallowed the gamergate pill so hard.

            Keep safe dude, try keep your weird political views to relevant posts.

          • Son of Banana Jim

            July 6, 2020 at 18:05

            lol, gamergate died years ago, why are you still fixated on that? Seriously, let it go. Gamergate doesn’t exist anymore!

            But seriously Gavin, what’s going on with you? I mean I remember you weren’t this far of the deep end. Even during gamergate, we were in agreement on a lot of things, and yet, now it seems that whatever tethered you to the middle ground has been lost. And, since when do you go for personal attacks? I remember even during the height of Lazygamer and the console fanboi-wars, you knew where the line was.

            Sad, bru! Maybe you’ll find your inner peace again, mate. I certainly hope you can be normal again, and allow for different opinions.

          • Son of Banana Jim

            July 6, 2020 at 17:51

            I think you’re either reading into things that don’t exist, isn’t true, or you’re projecting or maybe you’re basing everything on rumours and whatever has been swirling in your echo chamber. We’re not even in contact on social media, nor do we interact privately.

            I mean you can create this boogeyman in your head, but bro.. you don’t know me. hahahahahaha! That’s the really funny part of all of this. You have this image of Banana Jim in your head, and it’s a strawman.

            https://media2.giphy.com/media/26n6Gx9moCgs1pUuk/giphy.gif

          • MechMachine

            July 6, 2020 at 17:40

            Agreed. The world needs some healing. When you have over-reactions like this…

          • Son of Banana Jim

            July 6, 2020 at 17:53

            Now I really need to know what sites you’ve been frequenting.

        • Son of Banana Jim

          July 6, 2020 at 17:35

          Nope, I’m not offended, merely pointing out that when we buy something we’re more likely to defend it. It’s perfectly normal.

          And what did I say that invokes images of BLM in your mind ? Or looting or Mandela ? I don’t like Antifa, but they have nothing to do with this game.

          This is honestly the most irrational thing you’ve ever said.

          That’s a separate matter to what you were talking about, I was commenting about the abuse the voice actors were receiving, and that the vitriol should be aimed at Neil, Sony and Naughty Dog – rather then some poor lady who’s just being an actor. Maybe, re-read what I wrote. It wasn’t a condemnation of the fact that you like the game. If you like it, you like it. What other people think shouldn’t matter.

          Reply

          • Ant Visagie

            July 6, 2020 at 19:04

            I don’t believe the death threats are as severe as they claim. I’m sure they exist but this is just too convenient for me. It’s a PR stunt.

          • Son of Banana Jim

            July 6, 2020 at 19:04

            Have you seen the madness that oozed out of the Rylo fanbase after the last dreadful star wars movie? I mean those weirdos went after Adam Driver’s wife. People are capable of this sort of thing, and especially when they’re anonymous and on the internet.

            Nah, I believe the death threats are legit – but I’ll concede that some of it might be exaggerated (and also that ND is taking advantage of it – and allowing the news media to run wild with it). Normally, you’d work with law enforcement, hand over the offending tweets, rather than getting a flurry of op-eds and articles.

          • MechMachine

            July 6, 2020 at 17:35

            Yea, in future, please don’t make assumptions. I am enjoying the game for what it is. Seriously.

          • Son of Banana Jim

            July 6, 2020 at 17:40

            And that’s fine, you really shouldn’t get worked up about what some random individual thinks about a game that you enjoy. As I said, if you like it, you like it. I’ve liked games that others have hated. I’ve liked movies that others hated. I’ve hated movies that others have hated. All, I’m giving is my opinion.

            I was merely pointing out the fact that if you’re investing your time, money into it – especially if it is R1000, you’re definitely going to try to find the good in it – the ruby in the dust. You’re going to try to overlook the flaws, you might even say “Man, that story sucked ass, but damn is the combat brilliant”.

            In summary, calm down, Mech. I wasn’t attacking you.

          • MechMachine

            July 6, 2020 at 17:51

            I`m calm. Do me a favor, Try get away from the mindset you are in. It will do you the world of good. There is a lot of bile and hate in the world at the moment and you don’t see it when you are in it. Cut your losses, recognize what you have learnt and try and understand what it has done to you as a person.

            You might be surprised at the wisdom you may have gained.

          • Son of Banana Jim

            July 6, 2020 at 18:05

            I’ll pass, I don’t think taking advice from people on social media is good for you, especially if they’re misconstrued what you wrote.

          • Son of Banana Jim

            July 6, 2020 at 17:53

            You’re getting really worked up about a game? I think maybe you need to sit back, and think about it a bit. Why am I getting so worked up about an opinion? Maybe, it’s not me, it’s you?

          • Son of Banana Jim

            July 6, 2020 at 17:36

            I mean my comment is clearly in two parts, one addressing what you wrote and then commenting on the abuse. It’s not rocket science!

            https://media3.giphy.com/media/1dLjB0giZ8jxZtlZYp/giphy.gif

      • Ant Visagie

        July 6, 2020 at 19:04

        It’s different when you pay for something. I also find it hard to give up on a movie or game especially after paying for it.

        Reply

      • Son of Potassium

        July 7, 2020 at 15:50

        Buyers remorse us the worst thing to admit. Just look at all the Fallout 76 players.

        Reply

        • Son of Banana Jim

          July 7, 2020 at 15:59

          I see, Fallout 76 is coming to xbox ultimate game pass… there’s a part of me that just wants to experience the pain. I can’t explain why.

          Reply

          • Son of Potassium

            July 7, 2020 at 22:38

            Masochist? Or maybe you just miss proper Fallout like so many “entitled” gamers

    • Gr8_Balls_o_Fire

      July 11, 2020 at 10:11

      This man knows what’s up. If I had the patience to write like this, I would have echoed the same sentiment.

      Thank you

      Reply

  5. For the Emperor!

    July 6, 2020 at 13:22

    How dare they go after one of the darlings of Critical Role! Regardless of who the voice is behind the character though, this behavior is pathetic. Sure, you dislike the game and the character. But what the F does that have to do with the person who voices them?

    Also, Dollar to Doughnuts those “brave” trolls would shit themselves if her husband stood in front of them. And I bet you a lot of them at the next convention also beg for autographs when they are in person.

    Retards…

    Reply

    • MechMachine

      July 6, 2020 at 14:03

      It’s stupid.

      Reply

  6. SagatatiaRZA

    July 6, 2020 at 14:03

    Ek het my belt reg. Let’s line these manbabies up it’s time to do what their parents couldn’t.

    Reply

    • BradeLunner

      July 6, 2020 at 14:22

      Hahaha! Belt hiding bro, important part of my education growing up

      Reply

  7. Ant Visagie

    July 6, 2020 at 19:03

    This sounds like a PR stunt, because the timing is just too interesting. I don’t want to be too conspiratorial but this is the exact same thing they did when Last Jedi was released.

    Reply

    • Gavin Mannion

      July 7, 2020 at 12:02

      Because it’s the exact same bad side of the internet getting their panties in a twist about the same reasons?

      They’ve shown proof, it’s not a PR stunt. Humanity needs to be better

      Reply

  8. Hammersteyn

    July 7, 2020 at 09:36

    Ugh, can this game and all the drama just move on already?

    Reply

  9. Son of Potassium

    July 7, 2020 at 15:50

    They condemned their writers to writing the worst story ever as well.

    Reply

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