Natalia Dyer Feels Protective About “Oversexualization” of Her Young ‘Stranger Things’ Costars
Millie Bobby Brown previously said she is "frustrated" at being sexualized.
Natalia Dyer of Netflix’s Stranger Things is speaking out about how she feels protective over her younger costars because she believes that they’re oversexualized in the media. Instant fame from the success of Stranger Things launched all the lead actors into the spotlight, and Dyer thinks the media has not handled the child actors’ stardom well.
In an August 23rd interview with The Independent, Dyer was asked how she felt about campaigns like W magazine stating that then-13-year-old Millie Bobby Brown, who plays Eleven in the series, was responsible for making television “sexier than ever,” and Finn Wolfhard (Mike) receiving risque messages from adult fans at age 14. In response, Dyer said, “There are so many layers going on here.”
“I generally feel like, to me, it’s oversexualizing them,” she told The Independent. “I feel protective over the younger kids even though they’re not kids anymore, they’re teens. They’re all great people and all having to grow up in very crazy circumstances.”
As a private person, I just feel like, leave people alone—unless you’re talking about their work or what they want to talk about, Dyer said.
Brown, who turned 16 in February, posted a video on her birthday explaining how it’s been difficult growing up with all eyes on her. “There are moments I get frustrated from the inaccuracy, inappropriate comments, sexualization, and unnecessary insults that ultimately have resulted in pain and insecurity for me,” she wrote in the caption of her video.
“Let’s focus on what needs changing and I hope this video informs you on the things that go on behind the scenes of the headlines and flashing lights,” she continued.
“It’s a very tricky and complex issue,” Dyer said, adding that the sexualization of young actors is “a cultural issue, there must be a bigger concept behind it as to why. Just let people be the people that they are, without any judgment.”
Basically, let kids be kids and keep sexualization out of the equation.
