Joseph Quinn, the British actor who plays Eddie in the hit Netflix original series Stranger Things, has spoken out against the online harassment and bullying that his co-star, Millie Bobby Brown, has been subjected to.
In a recent interview with The Guardian, Quinn condemned the “disgusting” behavior of trolls who have targeted Brown on social media. He explained that he had witnessed the harassment firsthand and was appalled by the way some people feel entitled to attack others online.
“It’s disgusting, and it’s wrong,” Quinn said. “We’re all human beings, and nobody deserves to be treated like that.”
Brown, who plays the character of Eleven in the show, has been the subject of ridicule and abuse online for several years now. Her social media pages have been flooded with hateful comments, insults, and even death threats from people who seem to take pleasure in tearing her down.
The attacks on Brown have been especially vicious in recent months, with some trolls even calling for her to be canceled or fired from her role on Stranger Things. Earlier this year, she deleted her Twitter account after becoming the target of transphobic memes and jokes.
Quinn, who joined the cast in the show’s third season, said that he had seen the effects of the online abuse on Brown and that it was deeply troubling. He also pointed out that the behavior of the trolls is symptomatic of a wider culture of online cruelty and aggression.
“It’s part of a bigger problem, isn’t it?” he said. “It’s become this normalized thing where people feel like they can say whatever they want to somebody without any consequences.”
Quinn’s words echo those of many other celebrities and public figures who have spoken out against online bullying and harassment. In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the harm that trolling can cause, and many people have called for more to be done to tackle this issue.
However, despite the efforts of activists and campaigners, online harassment remains a pervasive problem in our society. As Quinn notes, the anonymity and distance offered by the internet can make it all too easy for people to behave in cruel and hateful ways.
So what can be done to stop the trolls?
Quinn suggests that one of the key solutions is education. He believes that people need to be taught from a young age about the importance of empathy, kindness, and respect for others.
“I think it’s about educating people and giving them the tools to communicate in a positive and constructive way,” he said. “If people were more aware of the impact that their words can have on others, I think they would be more careful about what they say online.”
In addition to education, many people have called for stronger laws to be put in place to protect people from online abuse. Currently, the laws in many countries are inadequate or outdated when it comes to dealing with internet-based harassment, and this can make it difficult for victims to seek justice.
However, progress is being made. In the UK, for example, the government has recently introduced new laws that could see social media companies fined if they fail to remove harmful content from their platforms.
Ultimately, though, the responsibility for ending online bullying and harassment rests with all of us. We all have a role to play in promoting a culture of respect and empathy online, and in calling out those who seek to harm others.
As Quinn puts it: “I think we need to start having a conversation about how we interact with each other online, and what kind of behavior we find acceptable. Until we address the root causes of trolling, we’re never going to be able to put an end to it.”
Hopefully, with more people like Joseph Quinn speaking out against online bullying and harassment, we can start to make progress in the fight against this insidious scourge.