The Boys star Erin Moriarty is calling out supposed “fans” of the show for “silencing” her with trolling and misogyny.
The actor has appeared on all three seasons of the hit Prime Video show, playing the character Starlight.
In the series, Starlight – real name Annie January – is one of The Seven, the most powerful and famous superhero group in the world. However, alongside her boyfriend Hughie (Jack Quaid), she’s secretly waging a war against Vought International, the congolomerate who formed them.
On Tuesday (6 September), Moriarty shared a Medium post titled “#IStandWithStarlight?: The Betrayal of Erin Moriarty by The Boys Fans” that was written by Instagram user @butcherscanary.
The piece’s subheading reads: “As it turns out, you can dedicate an entire season of a television show to exploring how the toxicity of masculinity crushes and controls women, and seemingly a majority of the audience will still fail to employ the lessons learned– or worse, not have recognised there was a message at all.”
In response, Moriarty captioned her own post: “I do feel silenced. I do feel dehumanised. I do feel paralysed. I’ve put blood, sweat, and tears into this role (over and over and over again), I’ve grown UP in this character’s shoes (*emphasis on grown up – we change and evolve mentally AND physically).”
The actor went on to thank the writer of the piece, adding that this treatment by the fans “does break my heart” and that “this kind of trolling is exactly what Annie would speak out against”.
She added: “Everyone’s going through their own battle(s); let’s not add to that. I will never intentionally (and ESPECIALLY) publicly add to yours. This has only strengthened my empathy muscle and to anyone who comes at me: I see you, I I don’t hate you, I only empathise and forgive.”
Moriarty’s co-star Antony Starr, who plays the villainous Homelander, replied: “Support you and what you say here 100 per cent. Well put ;) Your work on the show is and always has been stellar and you are beautiful inside and out. Keep shining ;) xo.”
The Boys’ fourth season is currently in production.
