Olivia Cooke, who plays Alicent Hightower in HBO’s “House of the Dragon,” says she takes a step back from social media after encountering what she describes as “ugliness” within the “Game of Thrones” fandom. Multiple outlets report she links the decision to the lead-up to the show’s third-season debut, which arrives this summer.
Across the coverage, Cooke criticises how fans interpret her character and the broader tone of online discussions. NME and ComingSoon.net highlight her callouts of “ugliness” in fandom behaviour, while Variety and the Times of India broaden the complaint to include “misogyny” and “racism,” and frame her withdrawal as a way to protect her mental focus. The Hollywood Reporter and other outlets describe her stance in similar terms, focusing on her decision to step away and the negative atmosphere she says she encountered.
The story is presented mainly as a personal media-relations choice rather than a development in the shows themselves, though outlets note the timing around season three and the “polarizing themes” surrounding its arrival.
