HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Star Olivia Cooke Calls Out GAME OF THRONES Fandom Over Its “Ugliness” and Misogyny
Olivia Cooke has some serious issues with the Game of Thrones fandom, particularly when it comes to how fans have interpreted her character, Alicent Hightower, in HBO’s House of the Dragon.
The actress says some of the reactions have gotten completely out of hand, and she isn't interested in letting that negativity consume her life.
Cooke, who has played Alicent since the show's first season, recently opened up about the backlash surrounding the character's controversial storyline in Season 3.
Speaking with GQ, she criticized the way certain fan theories and interpretations have taken on lives of their own, often straying far from what's actually happening in the series.
“I think some of those interpretations just catch fire, and they become something that bears no resemblance to what was shown on the screen at the time,” Cooke told the outlet.
She also called out some of the more disturbing behavior within the fan community, saying, “There’s a lot of ugliness to that fandom as well. It’s steeped in misogyny. There’s a lot of racism. I try to let it take up minimal mental real estate.”
The backlash intensified during House of the Dragon Season 3, which featured some particularly uncomfortable developments involving Alicent and her son, Aemond Targaryen.
Among the most controversial moments were a reluctant kiss between the two characters and an intimate dream Aemond has about his mother.
Those scenes sparked plenty of heated discussion online, with some viewers criticizing the creative decisions and others questioning how Cooke felt about filming them.
Cooke also pushed back against the suggestion that she was somehow being pushed around by the show's directors or forced into uncomfortable creative situations against her wishes.
In fact, she spoke highly of director Clare Kilner, with whom she has developed a strong working relationship. Cooke praised Kilner's approach to directing, explaining that she demonstrated how “you don’t have to stomp around the set and exert testosterone. You can just handle each department with kindness and care.”
It's clear Cooke has a lot more respect for the people making the show than some fans have given them credit for.
The actress has also taken steps to distance herself from the online discourse. She stayed away from Instagram from April until October, with the Season 3 premiere over the summer playing a major role in her decision to disconnect.
Considering how intense the conversations surrounding Alicent have become, it's understandable why she'd want to avoid spending her free time reading what strangers think about her character.
As for Alicent's future, she survived the events of Season 3, leaving the door open for Cooke to return in the fourth and final season of House of the Dragon. HBO hasn't confirmed a premiere date, but based on the show's previous release schedule, Season 4 could arrive sometime around mid-2028.
There's certainly more story to tell before the Targaryen civil war reaches its conclusion, and Alicent remains an important part of it.
Fans are always going to have strong opinions about House of the Dragon, especially when the writers make controversial choices involving beloved or divisive characters. Criticizing those choices is fair game, but Cooke makes a valid point about how quickly those conversations can turn personal and ugly.
What do you think about Cooke's comments? Has the Game of Thrones fandom gone too far with its criticism of Alicent, or are fans justified in being frustrated with the direction of her story?