House of the Dragon Star Olivia Cooke Quits Social Media Over Misogynistic Fan Backlash
House of the Dragon actress Olivia Cooke reveals why she left social media, citing misogyny, racism, and toxic comments from the HBO fanbase.
POLICY WIRE — London, UK — Olivia Cooke, the actress portraying Alicent Hightower in the HBO hit House of the Dragon, has addressed her decision to abandon social media due to the toxic environment within the show’s fandom.
The 32-year-old star, who rose to fame in the Game of Thrones prequel series, described certain segments of the audience as being filled with racism, misogyny, and hateful rhetoric.
In a recent interview with GQ Hype, Cooke noted that some fan interpretations often evolve into ideas that bear no connection to the actual material shown on the screen.
She explained that she attempts to limit the mental space these negative interactions occupy because of the inherent ugliness found within the online community.
Cooke opted to deactivate her accounts prior to the premiere of the third season of the series, which debuted in June, after realizing the digital platforms were negatively impacting her mental health.
Reflecting on the current state of celebrity culture, she compared the pressure of being a famous actor to a monster that no longer provides personal nourishment.
She emphasized that film and television should be viewed as creative art and art rather than tools for building brands, gaining followers, or receiving free attention.
This is not the first time the actress has spoken out against Instagram; she previously criticized the platform for distorting a person’s perception of their own body and self.
Speaking to The Guardian earlier this year, she expressed frustration with ‘looksmax’ content that promotes unrealistic transformations, noting that this obsession with perfection has bled into the entertainment industry.
Despite her absence from social media, Cooke continues to face hostility in person. She reported that fans often request photos only to hurl insults at her character afterward.
The Slow Horses actress described these encounters as vitriolic, noting that it is jarring to receive such verbal abuse while simply walking down the street.
Cooke shared that she responds to these critics by suggesting they delete the photos they just took, stating she simply tries to handle the situations in her stride.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)>
