On Friday, Sam Heughan, best known as Jamie Fraiser on the Starz series ‘Outlander‘, shared startling details about being subject to ‘bullying, harassment, stalking, and false narrative’ for the past six years. The actor who currently stars in Outlander season 5, took to Twitter to pen down a lengthy post about his harrowing brush with bullying. While Heughan refused to divulge names, he mentioned that it’s been a daily concern since 2014, the year when his show first aired. He also added that the ordeal was affecting his mental health, his costars, his friends, and his family. Immediately after Heughan opened about his experience, his co-stars; including Caitriona Balfe, Steven Cree, Sophie Skelton, Scott Kyle James, Maril Davis came out in his support. Recently, celebrities beyond the Outlander community are also rallying behind Heughan, including WWE wrestler Mick Foley.
Stay safe all.x pic.twitter.com/9WbwAnT6nz
— Sam Heughan (@SamHeughan) April 17, 2020
Mick Foley Comes Out In Support Of Sam Heughan
Three times WWE Champion Mick Foley posted a video message to Sam Heughan on Twitter today. Foley championed behind Sam Heughan for bravely coming out after years of harassment and bullying. Foley also revealed that the experience was relatable for him, as he too had to face negative comments. However, Foley added that his experience wasn’t as intense as Heughan, who has been facing death threats and slurs for a long time. Foley advised Heughan to forget about the hate, and concentrate more on the love and positive feedback to his show. He assured Sam Heughan that there are several amazing people out there who love his work, while also respecting fan boundaries.
A message of support for @SamHeughan of my favorite show @Outlander_STARZ #WeStandWithSam @caitrionambalfe @SkeltonSophie @OutlanderWriter @Heughligans @ClanHeughan @OutlanderAmbass pic.twitter.com/ObbZuwAOZj
— Mick Foley (@RealMickFoley) April 18, 2020
Mick Foley Is An Outlander Fan
Foley admitted that although he hadn’t watched Outlander until last year, he became a fan of the show recently. Foley’s mother insisted him to watch the show, and when he did Foley found it gripping. Mick Foley also expressed that Sunday nights are like ‘Christmas mornings’ for Outlander fans. They await a new episode every week, and once it airs on Starz, it becomes a mode of escapism for them. Mick Foley finds the story of Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) and Claire Fraser (Caitriona Balfe)’s stories enthralling. And he is equally a fan of the supporting actors in his show.
Outlander Cast Rallies Behind Sam Heughan
After Sam’s revelations, the entire Outlander Season 5 cast is cheering for him. Co-star Caitriona Balfe slammed the part of fandom that utilises its energy say awful and untrue things. She asked the haters to use their energy in doing charities rather than wasting it on hate.
Sad that Sam has had to come out and say all this. I would have thought mean bitchy behaviour would have been left in the school yard. But unfortunately a VERY SMALL but very vocal part of this fandom use their energy to write and say awful untrue things … maybe they should https://t.co/fCfHp9sP72
— Caitriona Balfe (@caitrionambalfe) April 17, 2020
The show’s other actors including Sophie Skelton, Steven Cree, Colin McFarlane, and David Berry also wrote lent their support to their co-actor.
Screens don’t protect from those sticks and stones so please stop throwing them. Thankfully, there are also incredible fans out there, and thankfully we have a very close cast. Standing together. We love you, Heughan. @SamHeughan ❤️ https://t.co/pn3VppANvB
— Sophie Skelton (@SkeltonSophie) April 17, 2020
Very sad that it’s got to a point where a guy like Sam, truly one of the nicest & most positive people I know, feels he has to post this. Since Outlander became a worldwide phenomenon, he’s always led the line in exemplary fashion; not to mention his incredible charity work too. https://t.co/CC5xIinAEU
— Steven Cree (@MrStevenCree) April 17, 2020
https://twitter.com/colinmcfarlane/status/1251105737486589952
Diana Gabaldon, author of the show’s source material also rallied behind Sam.
I don't know what possesses some people, but the bottom line is that Sam's private life is exactly that. _Nothing_ he does is anyone else's business. https://t.co/8vO4tE5v2M
— Diana Gabaldon (@Writer_DG) April 17, 2020
