Why Do People Hate Sophie Turner?
Sophie Turner is an English actress best known for playing Sansa Stark on the HBO series Game of Thrones. While many fans loved her performance, she has also faced a lot of backlash and hate online over the years. There are several reasons why some people have come to dislike or even hate Sophie Turner.
Her Character on Game of Thrones
One of the main reasons why people hate Sophie Turner is because of the character she played on Game of Thrones. Sansa Stark started out as a naive, spoiled girl who made poor decisions. Over the course of the show she matured and became a strong, cunning leader, but some fans could never look past her early mistakes.
She Was Annoying and Whiny at First
When we first meet Sansa in Season 1, she is self-absorbed, annoying, and whiny. She fights with her sister Arya and is excited to marry Prince Joffrey. She naively believes his false promises and thinks she will become queen one day. Even after he punishes and tortures her, she remains loyal. This grated on many viewers.
Perceived as Weak and Useless
Sansa did not have any combat skills or useful abilities early on. She was not a fighter like Arya. She often had to be rescued or protected by others. Some fans saw her as weak, useless, and pathetic compared to heroines like Arya, Daenerys, and Brienne.
Made Poor Decisions
In addition to being naive, Sansa made a lot of poor decisions early in the show. She told Cersei about her father Ned’s plans. She begged Joffrey for mercy at court. She refused to leave King’s Landing when given the chance. These mistakes led to suffering for her family and herself.
Her Controversial Comments
In media interviews over the years, Sophie Turner has made some divisive comments that rubbed some fans the wrong way.
About Fan Petitions
After the final season of Game of Thrones aired, some disgruntled fans started petitions demanding the season be remade. Sophie Turner called the petitions “disrespectful” to the crew who had worked hard on the show. However, this came across as dismissing fans’ genuine criticisms.
About Arya and Sansa’s Rift
When Arya and Sansa had a rivalry in Season 7, Sophie criticized Arya fans who took Arya’s side. She did not seem to understand why fans would reasonably support Arya’s perspective. This made her come across as dismissive of the fans.
About Backlash over the Finale
When asked about the fan backlash over the divisive Game of Thrones finale, Sophie Turner said the fans were just upset that the show was over and they had to move on. Fans felt this trivialized and invalidated all their issues with the rushed, unsatisfying ending.
Perceived Lack of Acting Range
While Sophie Turner has her defenders, some critics believe she lacks range as an actress. They feel she does not demonstrate much emotional variety in her performances.
Mostly Portrays Characters Similar to Sansa
Since Game of Thrones ended, Sophie Turner has played similar roles that share traits with Sansa. In X-Men: Dark Phoenix, she played Jean Grey with a muted affect. In Survive, she played a troubled woman struggling with trauma. Fans complain these characters all feel like variations of Sansa.
Seen as Wooden or Robotic
Some fans critique Sophie’s acting style as stiff, wooden, or robotic. They say she speaks her lines lifelessly and fails to emote convincingly. They do not see much dynamism or complexity in her performances.
Disliked Her X-Men Role
Many fans strongly disliked Sophie’s take on Jean Grey in X-Men: Dark Phoenix. As one of the most beloved X-Men characters, Jean Grey was expected to be more charismatic and emotive. Sophie’s portrayal was not well-received.
Perceived Lack of Talent Compared to Her Co-Stars
When compared to other young stars who got their big break on Game of Thrones like Emilia Clarke and Maisie Williams, some believe Sophie Turner is less talented than her peers.
Less Charismatic than Other Stars
Emilia Clarke (Daenerys) and Maisie Williams (Arya) stood out to many fans for their charisma and compelling performances. They stole many scenes. While Sophie had her moments, some feel she generally lacked the magnetism of her talented co-stars.
Seen as Less Successful since Game of Thrones
In the years since Game of Thrones ended, Maisie Williams and Emilia Clarke have gone on to roles that showcase their talents. Maisie had a hilarious turn in Two Weeks To Live. Emilia showed her comedic chops in Last Christmas. Meanwhile, Sophie’s post-GoT roles have been less acclaimed.
Perceived as Cashing in on Game of Thrones Fame
Some believe Sophie Turner is trying to quickly cash in on her Game of Thrones fame without developing her talent. She took the Dark Phoenix role soon after GoT ended and has done ads for brands like Louis Vuitton. Fans see her as less dedicated to the craft of acting.
Her Personality and Behavior
In the age of social media, fans see more of stars’ personal lives – and some don’t like what they’ve seen from Sophie Turner.
Called Out for Smoking and Drinking while Pregnant
Fans were upset when Sophie was photographed smoking cigarettes and vaping during her pregnancy. She also posted Instagram videos drinking wine while pregnant. Fans thought this behavior was irresponsible for an expectant mother.
Criticized for Revealing Ending at Wrap Party
At the Game of Thrones wrap party, Sophie Turner revealed a major spoiler about Arya killing the Night King – before the episode had aired. Fans who came across the leaked video were angry that she carelessly spoiled such an important moment.
Immature Social Media Presence
Sophie is very active on social media but some find her posts cringeworthy or immature. Fans accuse her of attention-seeking behavior and oversharing details about her personal life for publicity.
Marital Issues with Joe Jonas
Sophie’s marriage to Joe Jonas has faced public scrutiny. She admitted they went through a rough patch when she was 20. Fans assumed this had to do with her partying while he was sober.
Conclusion
While Sophie Turner clearly has fans who enjoy her work, she has also faced significant backlash online in recent years. Her naive and annoying Game of Thrones character, controversial comments about fans, perceived lack of talent compared to co-stars, and immature off-screen behavior have all contributed to people’s disdain for the actress. However, she remains a successful young star and has continued getting high-profile roles. Only time will tell if she wins over more of her detractors.
Summary of Main Reasons:
- Annoying early Game of Thrones character
- Controversial comments dismissing fan criticisms
- Perceived lack of acting talent/range
- Comparisons to more charismatic co-stars
- Immature social media presence/behavior
Frequently Asked Questions about Why People Hate Sophie Turner
Why did people hate Sansa Stark at first?
Many fans hated Sansa in early Game of Thrones seasons because she was naive, spoiled, and made poor decisions that contributed to her family’s and her own suffering. She was not the bold heroine some expected.
What controversial comments has Sophie Turner made?
Sophie angered fans by calling criticism of Season 8 “disrespectful,” dismissing Arya fans during the characters’ rift, and claiming anger over the finale was just because people missed the show. These came across as insulting fans’ legitimate concerns.
Why do some think Sophie Turner lacks acting talent?
Some critics believe Sophie Turner lacks emotional range and dynamism as an actress. They feel she does not demonstrate much complexity or charisma compared to her talented Game of Thrones co-stars like Emilia Clarke and Maisie Williams.
Why did people criticize Sophie’s pregnancy behavior?
Fans were upset when pregnant Sophie was photographed drinking wine and smoking cigarettes/vapes. They felt this irresponsible behavior could endanger the health of her unborn baby.
How has Sophie Turner alienated fans on social media?
Sophie has angered fans by spoiling Game of Thrones plot points at parties, oversharing her marital issues with Joe Jonas, and posting immature or cringeworthy content. People also perceive her as seeking attention.
