When Erin Moriarty, star of the popular series The Boys, faced harsh criticism from so-called fans for allegedly “ruining” her face, she decided to step back from social media. The negative comments became so widespread that former Fox News presenter Megyn Kelly publicly accused Moriarty of having an “addiction” to plastic surgery.
In a heartfelt, since-deleted Instagram post in January 2024, Moriarty expressed her shock and dismay at the bullying. “This is something I truly never anticipated writing,” she began. “We’re all subject to levels of bullying throughout our lives, but I am horrified, and I felt that I deserved to take a second to address these things.” She concluded by stating, “I’m horrified by the reaction, the reductive assumptions, and the aforementioned video that is a primary example of such harassment. It’s broken my heart. You’ve broken my heart.” Following this post, she temporarily left social media but has since returned with comments on her posts limited.
In an interview with the New York Times, Moriarty opened up about this challenging period. “For a few months, I thought my career was over,” she admitted. “There was so much attention brought to something that I was told never to address.” The increased paparazzi surveillance and intensified online commentary exacerbated her distress.
During this tough time, Moriarty found unwavering support from her co-stars, especially Karen Fukuhara, who plays Kimiko in The Boys. Fukuhara shared her concern, saying, “I was really worried about her for a period of time. Nobody is bulletproof, even though I think she’s close to it.”
Remarkably, Moriarty’s decision to speak out about her experience with online bullying had a positive ripple effect. Women began reaching out to her, sharing their own stories of similar experiences. This outpouring of support transformed Moriarty’s heartbreak into resilience. “I had left it on a note where I’d explicitly said that I had been heartbroken by the comments,” she reflected. “Now, I’m not heartbroken. I’m galvanized.”
In The Boys, Moriarty portrays Starlight (Annie January), a morally upright and idealistic hero who joins The Seven with hopes of making a positive impact. She soon becomes disillusioned by the corruption within The Seven and Vought International. Moriarty’s real-life experience of overcoming online bullying mirrors Starlight’s journey of finding strength and standing up against adversity.
Erin Moriarty’s story is a powerful reminder of the impact of online harassment and the strength found in community and support.