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If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that online discussions can get pretty heated – especially when it comes to video games. For the second season of The Last of Us, the backlash from a number of vocal and very angry gamers prompted producers to add extra security for Kaitlyn Dever, who plays Abby in the upcoming season.

Isabel Merced, who plays Dina in the series, explained in an interview with Josh Horowitz on his podcast “Happy Sad Confused” that the criticism the character received when “The Last of Us Part II” was released in 2020 did not go unnoticed by the producers of the live-action film. “There are people who really hate Abby, even though she’s not a real person. Just to remind you – not a real person. And that’s why Kaitlyn had to be specially protected during filming, by security guards.”

The measure may seem excessive, but it would not be the first time that an actress who plays Abby has been targeted for the character’s actions in the video game – which are also fictitious. Laura Bailey spoke very openly about the death threats she received for herself, her parents and her young son after the game was released.

Thankfully, there have been no reports of incidents of obsessed fans of the game on set, which Merced says is currently nearing completion of filming. Still, it’s ridiculous that this measure even had to be considered just because some people couldn’t understand that a fictional villain would do things they didn’t like.

The second season of The Last of Us is scheduled to be released on HBO and Max in 2025.