The Last of Us Part II’s controversial release generated backlash against some of its cast members, including Laura Bailey, who played the character Abby. Bailey opened up about receiving online abuse and threats, even targeted at her son, due to her portrayal of Abby.
The documentary Grounded II: The Making of The Last of Us Part II includes her tearful account of receiving death threats and the impact they had on her. The prevalence of online harassment in the gaming industry, particularly towards women, is highlighted by Bailey’s experience.
The backlash has raised concerns about the response to Kaitlyn Dever, who will play Abby in the HBO Max adaptation, and has led to calls for her to avoid social media. Additionally, the documentary mentioned that Naughty Dog has a concept for a third game in the series.
