Kaitlyn Devers powerful performance in The Last of Us The second season has generated strong reactions, with some fans crossing the line and genuinely hating it.

In a recent episode of Happy Sad Confused In a podcast, co-star Isabela Merced revealed that Dever needed “extra” protection because he had strong negative feelings toward her character Abby Anderson.

“There are so many weird people in this world because there are people who really hate Abby, who is not a real person,” Merced stressed, expressing disbelief at the intensity of the backlash. “Kaitlyn had to be extra guarded by security during filming because of that.”

Dever’s character, Abby Anderson, is a soldier who is at odds with Ellie, played by Bella Ramsay, making her the antagonist in Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie’s story.

Despite the character’s controversial role, Merced stressed that Dever herself was nothing like her on-screen personality.

“Kaitlyn is such a cool person who never lets anything get her down and always has her head in the right place. Plus, she’s going through a lot personally right now,” she said, referring to the recent death of Dever’s mother, who battled breast cancer.

Merced, who joined the cast as Dina, a lover of Ramsay’s Ellie, urged fans to remember that The Last of Us is fictional and serves to separate the character from the actress.