You Star Madeline Brewer Responds to Online Appearance Criticism

Madeline Brewer, who played Louise “Brontë” Flannery in the final season of Netflix's thriller series You, expressed shock at the online hate she received, particularly attacks on her appearance. Despite expecting mixed reactions to her character, Brewer did not anticipate being called ugly, especially given that the show's largest fan base is young women. She attributed much of the backlash to misogyny and frustration from fans upset that a woman, and one they might not find attractive, was responsible for the downfall of beloved serial killer Joe Goldberg. Brewer, who has a history of being bullied, found the comments triggering but felt better equipped to handle the criticism in her 30s due to therapy and personal growth. She emphasized that the negativity was less about her performance and more about the deconstruction of a male hero by a new female character. Brewer remains confident and grateful that she faced this scrutiny later in life, and she dismisses the hateful comments with resilience.