Evan Rachel Wood probably didn’t realize she was wading into such controversial waters with her latest binge TV take!
Like most good Americans over the Fourth of July weekend, the Westworld star was catching up with the denizens of Hawkins, Indiana with a binge of Stranger Things.
And, like the rest of us, she had some opinions about the new season.
Related: Netflix Responds To Backlash At Stranger Things Star’s Prank Show
Specifically, Evan took issue with some of the behavior exhibited by the “heroic” Chief Hopper, who spends quite a lot of time in Season Three getting spiteful and jealous and shouting at people.
She took to Twitter to write:
“You should never date a guy like the cop from #strangerthings. Extreme jealousy and violent rages are not flattering or sexy like TV would have you believe. That is all.”
*Narrator voice* That wasn’t all.
No, the actress — who testified last year in from of the House Judiciary Committee about her own experiences with rape and abuse in support of the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act — was immediately bombarded with comments dismissing her concerns.
She responded:
“Yes I am aware its ‘just a show’ and its set ‘in the 80s’ even though this stuff was unacceptable then too, but thats exactly my point. Its just a show and this is a gentle reminder not to fall for this crap in real life. Red flags galore.
Also I cant not laugh at the people assuring me its just a show but correcting me on the characters name.”
We are totally seeing eye to eye with Evan on this one. There are TONS of examples of character traits commonly portrayed on TV as funny or exciting — even romantic — which would be totally disturbing IRL.
Stalking…
https://giphy.com/gifs/life-from-lessons-ArkAxsWkvhYvC
Abuse…
https://giphy.com/gifs/fifty-shades-of-grey-G1CPP8I2tzXQ4
Kidnapping…
While all these characters may be fun to watch, you should NOT put up with any similar behavior in your personal life.
All she’s doing is pointing that out. It’s not even that controversial a statement — except apparently to people who just LOVE them some Chief Hopper.
Like most things on Stranger Things, Hopper is a throwback to tropes of movies and TV past — likely based on the Nick Nolte ’80s archetype, the slovenly, belligerent cop who can’t keep a girlfriend but can take a punch.
The show certainly gives more dimensions to the character, and being portrayed by the talented and endlessly adorable David Harbour doesn’t hurt.
But her message is a fair one.
In fact, Evan probably thought she was done with the responses — but nope! A couple days later she had to respond again, writing:
“Cue all the abusive people attacking me on twitter for posting a warning not to fall for abusive behavior like a popular tv character exhibited on a popular show because it reminds them of themselves and they feel personally attacked? Bring it on guys.”
Oof.
It’s one thing to love the show and take the character for what he is — but we hope people aren’t defending all the rage because they see themselves or someone they know.
Evan continued:
“I didn’t even say he was a bad guy or to stop watching the show, I just said ‘dont date people like that.’ But alas, abusers hear an attack and want a fight. Proving my point with their own retaliation.”
She did, however, clarify:
“This isn’t to say everyone who disagrees is an abuser. But it is very telling to see who agrees with the behavior.”
Then she noped the heck out of the Upside Down that is the comments section and moved along!
“Now if you will excuse me, I am going to excuse myself from the garbage fire. If you havent understood my point by now then I am not sure what else to say. ✌?”
What do YOU think of Hopper’s behavior in Season Three?
Is Evan’s criticism — and more importantly her advice about the real life version — hitting home?
[Image via FayesVision/WENN/Netflix.]
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