Joseph Quinn (Eddie) defends Stranger Things costar from online backlash

Stranger Things star Joseph Quinn (Eddie Munson), has come to the defense of costar Grace Van Dien. In the fourth season of the sci-fi series, Dien played cheerleader Chrissy Cunningham, Eddie’s love interest.

Unfortunately, Chrissy and Eddie’s lives were cut short by Vecna, but their short-lived romance was quite adorable. A cheerleader and a grungy rockstar? That’s a recipe for an unconventional but beautiful romance.

But while their characters didn’t get a chance to grow close, Quinn and Van Dien have kept up their real-life friendship. Quinn revealed as much while at the Showmasters’ London Comic-Con this past weekend.

Joseph Quinn defends Stranger Things costar Grace Van Dien

Van Dien was the target of some online hate back when season 4 premiered. Digging into Reddit (so take this with a grain of salt), some fans harassed her on Twitter, Tumblr, Tiktok and elsewhere on social media after she posted a couple times about the Eddie/Chrissy relationship. Some blasted her for glorifying a relationship with an age difference (Eddie is a super-senior) and others thought she was being disrespectful in light of their assumption that Eddie was gay.

Basically, an actress posted innocently about a character she played on a sci-fi show and a subset of the internet decided to hate on her for it. It doesn’t make any sense, but these types of backlashes rarely do.

“It’s so awful,” Quinn said about the harassment. “The internet is a very unforgiving place. It’s a place where people can show a lot of support, or where people can rally around hatred and misinformation. It’s indicative of where we are culturally, just through association she was getting lambasted. It’s disgusting. I don’t know what to say other than it sucks.”

Unfortunately, fans take things to an extreme level without considering how it impacts others. This is a show, people, and it does not permit anyone to attack others in such a brutal and aggressive way.

Luckily there are gentlemen like Joseph Quinn who aren’t afraid to voice their support and show their love! This only makes the fact that Eddie died in the fourth season more difficult to bear. Maybe there will be a surprise fashback in the final season? We can only hope.

Millie Bobby Brown is ready to say goodbye to Stranger Things

In other Stranger Things news, Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven) talked to Parade about the fifth and final season, which will start filming this year. “I’m feeling good,” she said. “I’m feeling ready to get back to work and to be able to finish it off with a bang.”

"I think it’s been—it’s been a long time coming, and I think the fans need closure, and so do the actors. So I think we’re definitely ready to be able to say goodbye to those roles and thank them and be grateful for the time that I’ve had with them, but I’m ready to move on to new projects and new roles to fulfill."

The final season of Stranger Things is set to air sometime in 2024.

To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and sign up for our exclusive newsletter.

Get HBO, Starz, Showtime, and MORE for FREE with a no-risk, 7-day free trial of Amazon Channels

h/t Digital Spy