Stranger Things star Joseph Quinn has criticised fans' treatment of his co-star Grace Van Dien.
Quinn played Eddie Munson in the fourth season of the behemoth Netflix sci-fi series.
The Hawkins High School student, electric guitar player and Hellfire Club leader became an instant hit with viewers.
Most of Quinn’s early scenes were filmed alongside Grace Van Dien who portrayed Eddie’s unlikely friend and cheerleader Chrissy Cunningham.
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While the majority of fans became engrossed in their blossoming relationship once the season hit the streaming service last year, Van Dien became the focus of relentless trolling comments online.
Quinn has now come to the defence of Van Dien during a live Q&A at Showmasters’ London Comic Con on Saturday (4 March).
The British actor was asked: “I just wanted to ask from the perspective of an actor and a friend and a support of women, what your thoughts are on the harassment that Grace Van Dien’s received for playing your on-screen love interest.”
In his response, Quinn called the comments sent to Van Dien ‘disgusting’.
He said: “I was talking to her about it. The internet is a very unforgiving place.
“It’s a place where people can show a lot of support, or where people can rally around hatred and misinformation.
“It’s indicative of where we are culturally - just through association she was getting lambasted. It’s disgusting. I don’t know what to say other than it sucks.”
The Stranger Things fan base welcomed Quinn’s comments and agreed that Van Dien has had to deal with unfair comments.
“I'm glad he spoke about it, Grace doesn't deserve any of the hate and it's just ridiculous,” one fan tweeted.
Another Stranger Things fanatic shared: “It was only a matter of time before he said something. I’m glad to know for sure now that he is aware of the situation.”
A third weighed in and declared: “Yeah, the hate Grace gets is gross. People need to sort their attitudes out.”
While a fourth fan shared pictures of Quinn and Van Dien together at publicity events and wrote: “Joseph Quinn, thank you for sticking up for our girl! we love and appreciate you so much.”
The fourth season of the hit series began with the troubled yet loveable cheerleader Chrissy becoming the first victim of Vecna and dying at the end of the episode.
After suffering visions of the dreaded grandfather clock, she comes under the spell of Vecna, who proceeds to crush her to death in truly horrifying fashion.
However, the Duffer brothers have since revealed they wish they hadn’t chosen to kill Chrissy off due to her great chemistry with Eddie.
Topics: Stranger Things, Celebrity
Gregory Robinson