‘Outlander’ stars explain why they don’t read fan commentary on social media

(6 Mar 2020) 'OUTLANDER' STARS EXPLAIN WHY THEY DON'T READ FAN COMMENTARY ON SOCIAL MEDIA
The stars of "Outlander" love their enthusiastic fanbase – but admit they have stopped reading online commentary about the show.
"I've taken a little step back from the social media as much as I can," says Caitriona Balfe, who plays a nurse called Claire in the show. "I remember in season one we used to read some of the bad reviews and laugh. Those are very funny."
But generally, says the actress and producer, reading fan feedback and reviews isn't helpful.
"It's not good for your mental health. I think, you know, as strong a person or as sane a person as you think you might be, that one little comment will be the one that will become a little worm in your brain."
"Outlander," based on the novel series of the same name by Diana Gabaldon, centers on Claire (Balfe) – a World War II nurse who is mysteriously sent back in time to Scotland in 1743.
There, she meets Highland warrior James Fraser, played by Sam Heughan, and becomes embroiled in the Jacobite Risings.
Heughan agrees with his co-star about not paying too much attention to what critics say.
"Everyone has an opinion and a comment. And you can't please everyone all the time. But the majority of people we can and do enjoy the show. And it's fun."
Before the show hit screens worldwide, Heughan and Balfe knew the time-travel series was going to have a hardcore crowd of followers.
But they still find "Outlander"'s success "overwhelming and shocking."
"Before we'd ever released any footage, they took Sam and I to Los Angeles and we did a fan event and there was 2,000 fans in this auditorium," recalls Balfe. "And we walked out on stage and we were just hit with this wall of screaming… I think from that moment, we were like, 'OK… there's an audience out there and they've got a huge appetite for anything to do with 'Outlander.'' And I think that's mostly down to Diana and her books."
Season 5 of "Outlander" is currently showing on Starz.

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