Melanie Lynskey Shuts Down Body-Shaming Remarks Over ‘The Last of Us’ Role
Written by SOURCE on February 9, 2023
The unfortunately long and presumably never-ending book comprised of frustrating examples of loudly espoused idiocy continued this week in response to the latest episode of HBO’s universally beloved, massively successful The Last of Us adaptation.
As you’ve no doubt seen on your (inarguably Musk-ruined) timeline, Melanie Lynskey—who last year received an Emmy nomination for her role on FX’s Yellowjackets—was the subject of a swiftly criticized body-shaming attempt this week. Lynskey, of course, was featured in the latest episode of the Pedro Pascal-led Last of Us as Kathleen Coghlan.
Specifically, beneath a photo of Lynskey that was not taken from the series itself, it was posited that “her body says life of luxury” and “not post apocolyptic [sic] warlord.” The comment in question, from model Adrianne Curry, ended with a mention of another actor: “Where is Linda Hamilton when you need her?”
Lynskey has since responded by pointing out that the photo is indeed not an image taken from the series, all while noting she doesn’t “need to be muscly” to portray a character of this type.
“Firstly- this is a photo from my cover shoot for InStyle magazine, not a still from HBO’s The Last Of Us,” she wrote, as seen below. “And I’m playing a person who meticulously planned & executed an overthrow of FEDRA. I am supposed to be SMART, ma’am. I don’t need to be muscly. That’s what henchmen are for.”
Curry, meanwhile, has since addressed the blowback in a number of follow-up tweets by rather convolutedly claiming that her remark was about the character herself and not the performer.
Lynskey followed her retort by opening up to fans about the experience of working on Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann’s expertly crafted blockbuster, pointing out that what excited her the most about the part was its suggestion of “a future in which people start listening to the person with the best ideas.”
The Last of Us will break from its usual Sunday time slot this week due to the Super Bowl, meaning we’ll be getting the series’ fifth episode a couple days early thanks to a football-dodging Friday drop.
