A shadowy underbelly puts a pall over the bright celebration of pop culture in the vibrant world of fandoms, where love and excitement for TV series and movies abound. Actress Erin Moriarty, who plays Starlight on the hit Amazon Prime Video series The Boys, has lately spoken out against the sexism and abuse she has seen from some of the show’s fans.
Moriarty’s path has been tarnished by nasty remarks and objectification that go beyond the position she plays in a work of fiction, despite the popularity and accolades she has received for it. Today, we explore the tragic afterlives of certain performers’ on-screen identities, which continue long after the final credits have rolled.
The Boys Fans: A Betrayal of Trust
Starlight isn’t like other female superheroes. With her brilliant abilities, she suddenly becomes a representation of fairness and virtue. Underneath the glitz and glamour, however, is a young lady struggling with the weight of celebrity and adult responsibilities.
Annie January is more human and inspirational than ever, thanks to Erin Moriarty, whose performance conveys the character’s depth and fragility. Moriarty’s performance as Starlight, who questions the hero industry’s darkness, is full of passion and depth.
In a powerful Instagram post, Moriarty shared an article penned by an empathetic fan under the handle @butcherscanary, titled #IStandWithStarlight?: The Betrayal of Erin Moriarty by The Boys fans.
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In a moving post, the writer describes how the show’s plot has rendered Starlight mute and sexualized her. Despite January’s fictitious status, the author acknowledged that Moriarty’s suffering from the onslaught of hateful and sexist remarks continues long after the credits roll.
“But Annie is fictional, and Erin is not. The torment doesn’t end for her when the credit starts, because there is no switch off. Whilst I’m sure her male colleagues have endured unjust criticism, the obsession with her looks and the extent of objectification is unmatched.”
Erin Moriarty has poured her life into the part of Starlight as an actor presenting a superheroine with nuanced feelings and frailties. However, some in the audience always fail to distinguish between the performers and the characters they portray.
Erin Moriarty’s Fandom for Good
The animosity expressed against Moriarty trivializes her abilities as an artist by focusing on her physical attributes. The actress has been affected by this poisonous environment, which runs opposite to the notion of female strength that The Boys is trying to send.
Moriarty courageously admitted in her reply how much the frequent criticism had affected her emotionally. After being “dehumanized” and “silenced” by the constant criticism, she calls on fans to show each other empathy and compassion instead of adding fuel to the flame wars.
After Moriarty’s frank confession, her The Boys cast mates showed undying love and affection for her. Homeland’s formidable Antony Starr, who spoke highly of Moriarty’s performance on the program, gushed over her inner and exterior beauty.
Jack Quaid, who portrays her on-screen beau Hughie Campbell, shared his praise for Moriarty, calling himself “lucky” to call her a friend. With the renewal of The Boys for a fourth season comes an important discussion among fan communities about the misogynistic treatment of Erin Moriarty.
The Boys is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video,
Source: Medium
