Why Do People Hate Amanda Abbington?
Amanda Abbington is a British actress best known for playing Mary Morstan in the BBC series Sherlock. Despite her acting talents, Abbington has faced considerable backlash and hatred online in recent years.
This article will explore some of the potential reasons why people seem to dislike Abbington, including accusations of unprofessional behavior, controversial personal life events, and perceived mistreatment of co-stars.
While no one deserves harassment, understanding the origins of the negativity can provide insight into celebrity culture and how the court of public opinion often rushes to harsh judgements.
Accusations of Unprofessional On-Set Behavior
One of the main criticisms frequently leveled at Abbington is that she behaves in an unprofessional or rude manner on set. There have been rumors and reports over the years that she is difficult to work with and treats crew members disrespectfully.
For example, tabloids claimed she would shout at production assistants on the set of Sherlock and demand they fetch her coffee and snacks. Sources described her as “impossible” and suggested her behavior contributed to the long delays between seasons of filming the show.
These rumors were never confirmed by Sherlock producers or stars, but they persist and have damaged Abbington’s reputation. Whether true or not, the stories paint her as arrogant and imperious on set. This perceived difficult personality is a major reason many cite for disliking the actress.
Perceived Mistreatment of Former Co-Stars
Another common accusation against Abbington is that she treated her former co-stars, especially her ex-husband Martin Freeman, terribly during and after their time working together.
Her decade long marriage to Freeman, with whom she has two children, ended in 2016. Rumors of their acrimonious split included claims that she was horrible to work with on Sherlock and made life very difficult for Freeman.
Some fans think she exhibited petty and unprofessional behavior towards Freeman on the Sherlock set after their breakup. They believe she contributed to the strained atmosphere on set during the filming of later seasons.
Right or wrong, these perceptions of her mistreating her famous ex-husband negatively color how many view Amanda Abbington as a person. Whether she actually behaved badly or was painted unfairly remains unclear.
Controversies Regarding Personal Life
Abbington’s personal life and romantic partnerships have also frequently sparked controversy and criticism.
Her relationships with actor Jonas Armstrong and comedian Alan Carr raised eyebrows due to rumors of infidelity. In 2020, she also married her boyfriend of two years, Jonjo O’Neill, in a surprise ceremony only months after her divorce from Freeman was finalized.
These quick romances and surprise weddings have led some to criticize Abbington as reckless in her love life. She’s garnered labels like “serial dater” and “cheater” by tabloids, even being dubbed a “maneater” at times.
While her dating and marital choices are ultimately her own business, they have helped fuel public disapproval and hatred from those who view her personal life as messy or immoral. The criticism has piled on over the years.
Perceived Hypocrisy on Social Issues
More recently, Abbington has faced backlash for perceived hypocrisy when speaking out on social issues, particularly those related to gender and feminism.
She has been vocal about wage equality, sexism in Hollywood, and other women’s rights issues. However, critics point out she herself was accused of complaining about pay on Sherlock and potentially contributing to certain production delays.
Some see her feminism as hypocritical given rumors of her own difficult on-set behavior. Anti-feminist groups have attacked her stances and pointed to past controversies as evidence she doesn’t practice what she preaches.
Whether that perception is accurate or not, it has helped stoke wider hatred and resentment against Abbington among certain demographic groups online. They paint her outspoken views as inconsistent with her actual behavior.
Online Harassment Campaigns
All of these controversies and rumors surrounding Amanda Abbington have led some internet communities and groups to initiate actual harassment and hate campaigns against the actress on social media platforms like Twitter.
Certain forums on sites like Reddit have allowed memes, abusive comments, doxxing, and coordination of mass trolling efforts. This includes recent barrages of hate tweets aimed directly at Abbington.
While not necessarily large in scale, these coordinated attacks demonstrate that Abbington has become an online target for trolls looking to engage in abusive behavior under the guise of disapproving of her rumored past actions. The social media hate reflects broader dislike some groups seem to have formed against her over the years.
Conclusion
In the end, no one can say for certain to what extent these perceptions of Amanda Abbington reflect reality. Rumors do not necessarily equate to facts about her work conduct or personality. However, the persistence of unprofessional and unflattering narratives clearly fuels much of the dislike and hatred frequently directed Abbington’s way.
Only those who actually know or work with Abbington can attest to the truth behind the rumors. But the court of public opinion weighs heavily in cases like this, whether justified or not. The controversies around her relationships, feminism, and behavior on sets like Sherlock have cemented her villified reputation among large swaths of the general public.
While going too far into harassment is always unacceptable, these examples demonstrate the complex social dynamics that build up public negativity toward certain celebrities over time. Unchecked rumor and controversy tend to breed more hatred until the truth is often lost entirely. Amanda Abbington has sadly become a prime example of this kind of unchecked phenomenon and the vicious circles of disapproval and dislike it produces.
Frequently Asked Questions about Why People Hate Amanda Abbington
What are the main controversies around Amanda Abbington?
The main controversies involve accusations of unprofessional behavior on sets, mistreatment of ex Martin Freeman, messy personal relationships, hypocritical feminism stances, and being targeted by online harassment campaigns.
When did the public hatred against her begin?
Dislike of Abbington first began swirling during her time acting on Sherlock in 2010-2016. Rumors of rude on-set behavior began circulating then. Criticism grew after her divorce from Freeman and subsequent quick remarriage.
Is any of the criticism against her valid?
It’s impossible to say with certainty what is true or false. The widespread rumors could be exaggerated or misleading. However, enough consistent controversies exist to suggest at least some may have validity at their core.
How does Abbington respond to the hatred against her?
Abbington has avoided directly addressing most controversies. She denies being difficult on Sherlock. She advocates for women’s rights issues on social media. But otherwise ignores most rumors and online negativity directed at her.
Could the hatred be based partly on sexism?
Quite possibly. Double standards about women’s dating lives, feud rumors, and critiques of speaking out likely involve elements of sexism in the predominantly male nerd fan communities leading Abbington attacks.