Olivia Cooke says "ugliness" of House Of The Dragon fandom made her take social media break

As season three of House of the Dragon commenced in the summer, actress Olivia Cooke had already anticipated the influx of online opinions and baseless assumptions that would follow. In a recent interview with GQ Hype, Cooke, who portrays Queen Alicent on the Game of Thrones prequel series, revealed that she had taken a break from social media to safeguard her mental health.

This year, her focus was on improving mental well-being, which included distancing herself from the discussions surrounding the series. These discussions often revolved around uncomfortable themes such as incest, which was prevalent in the Game of Thrones universe, and complaints about Alicent receiving too much screen time. Some Reddit users even speculated that Cooke was being exploited by the director, portraying an "ugliness" within the fandom that was far removed from the actual content of the show.

Cooke acknowledged this ugliness, noting that the fandom was steeped in misogyny and racism. She emphasized that she tries to limit its influence on her mental health. Director Clare Kilner was also defended by Cooke, who praised her for handling the production with kindness and care rather than resorting to intimidation tactics.

The third season of House of the Dragon was marked by spectacular scenes, including dragon-on-dragon battles and epic confrontations, but it also triggered social media backlash. The premiere scene included an incestuous kiss between Alicent and her son, Aemond Targaryen, and a subsequent hallucination in episode seven. The series, known for its toxic fanbase, has been previously addressed by author George R.R.

Martin and several cast members, who have spoken out about the toxicity. Lena Headey, who played Cersei Lannister, expressed shock at the fans' anger following a scene where she used a body double for her famous naked walk of shame. Actor Steve Toussaint, who plays Corlys Velaryon, received racist abuse after being cast on the show.

The controversial ending of Game of Thrones led to a petition demanding a remake, which was criticized by stars Kit Harington and Sophie Turner as disrespectful. Fortunately, Cooke will not have to endure this toxicity for long, as showrunner Ryan Condal announced the series will conclude with its fourth season.