Bella Ramsey responds to 'Last of Us' backlash, tells critics to skip Season 3 if they dislike it

Bella Ramsey, who plays Ellie in HBO’s The Last of Us, has addressed online criticism following the release of Season 2.

The series, adapted from the video game The Last of Us Part II, received backlash for Joel’s death, portrayed by Pedro Pascal, and for Ellie’s relationship with Dina, played by Isabela Merced. Review-bombing and homophobic comments targeted the season across social media platforms.

Speaking on The Awardist podcast, Ramsey explained how they handled the reaction, “I tried to steer clear as much as I could. Because there’s nothing I can do about it anyway. The show is out. There’s nothing that can be changed or altered. So I’m like, there’s not really any point in reading or looking at anything. People are of course entitled to their opinions. But it doesn’t affect the show, it doesn’t affect how the show continues or anything in any way. They’re very separate things to me. So no, I just don’t really engage.”

Ramsey also gave a direct response to detractors ahead of Season 3, “You don’t have to watch it. If you hate it that much, the game exists. You can just play the game again. If you do want to watch it, hope you enjoy it.”

Season 2 concluded on a cliffhanger, with Ellie ambushed by Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby, who will become the central character in the third season. Showrunner Craig Mazin confirmed the shift, adding that he will lead Season 3 without co-creator Neil Druckmann, who is focusing on his work at Naughty Dog.

The Last of Us Season 3 is expected to be released in 2027, a'though an exact date has not been announced yet.