Peter Safran Defends Milly Alcock as Supergirl Backlash Grows — Read Between the Lines

Peter Safran Defends Milly Alcock as Supergirl Backlash Grows — Read Between the Lines

DC Studios co-head Peter Safran is backing Milly Alcock as her Supergirl comments continue to draw backlash.

The latest comes from Variety’s new profile on Alcock, where the actress again addressed online criticism and fan reaction.

The article also reveals Safran personally reached out to Alcock after the previous flare-up over her Vanity Fair comments, where she talked about people having a “weird ownership of women’s bodies.”

For release date, cast, box office, and more, see everything we know about Supergirl.

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Peter Safran and James Gunn attend the “Superman” Fan Event in London’s Leicester Square

Peter Safran Supports Milly Alcock

According to Variety, Safran contacted Alcock after noticing the reaction to her remarks.

“I called her and just said, ‘You’re doing great! You’re handling it beautifully. You’re never going to make everybody happy. Just be true to yourself,’” Safran said. “And I really do think she’s handling it well. I would also recommend, don’t wallow in it. It never makes you feel good.”

The comments make it clear DC Studios is aware of the backlash and is standing behind Alcock.

For Supergirl, this is becoming more than just an actress giving interviews. Safran’s support now puts the studio’s leadership directly behind the messaging, even as the movie’s PR campaign keeps circling back to trolls, backlash, and fan behavior.

James Gunn’s Supergirl Called A ‘Pricey Risk’: Warner Bros. Nervous?

Alcock’s Comments Keep Drawing Attention

Alcock first drew attention during her Vanity Fair interview, where she said her experience on House of the Dragon taught her that “simply existing as a woman in that space is something that people comment on.”

She added, “We have become very comfortable having this weird ownership of women’s bodies.”

The remarks sparked a backlash from fans who felt Alcock and the Supergirl campaign were already framing criticism of the movie as toxic before release.

Alcock then doubled down in the Variety profile, saying she didn’t even say “men,” only “people,” and argued the angry reaction proved her point.

Interestingly, the backlash to the comments seems real, as fan interest in Supergirl has dropped.

Supergirl Milly Alcock

Christian Comments Add More Fuel

The Variety article also included Alcock’s comments about some critics having faceless accounts, burner profiles, or names like “Dad of four, Christian,” which she called “hilarious.”

The New York Post later picked up on the remarks with the headline, “‘Supergirl’ actress mocks critics, says a lot of them are Christian dads.”

Alcock also said, “Whose opinion do you really care about? If you’re p-ssing the right kind of people off, you’re doing OK.”

For a movie already facing box office questions, mocking any group of potential viewers is a risky move. It may play well with entertainment media, but it does not help sell tickets to skeptical fans.

Milly Alcock Relates to Supergirl, Addresses Fan Backlash Ahead of DCU Release

Safran Says Alcock Is Exactly What DC Wanted

Safran also praised Alcock’s take on Kara Zor-El throughout the Variety piece.

He described this version of Supergirl as “super tough” and said Kara has “been through some sh-t,” after watching Krypton die and losing everyone she loved, including her parents.

Safran also said Alcock’s audition moved the room.

“Everybody had tears in their eyes,” he said. “She wears her heart on her sleeve; she brings so much emotion to the role. We all looked at each other and said, ‘This is absolutely perfect. She’s exactly what we want.’”

He also recalled DC executive Chantal Nong crying when Alcock first appeared in the Supergirl costume for her cameo in Superman.

“Chantal full-on ugly cried,” Safran said. “It was a culmination of so much hard work. And then to see somebody who so perfectly embodied the character — when Milly walked out, we all felt it.”

Safran also previously said Supergirl is cool and original. The film releases on June 26th.

About Matt McGloin

Matt McGloin is the editor-in-chief and publisher of Cosmic Book News, the independent entertainment news site he founded in 2008. He covers movies, comics, TV, video games and pop culture and has reported major industry scoops over the years, including revealing the Avengers: Endgame title ahead of its official announcement. Through Cosmic Book News, he helped Marvel Comics promote Guardians of the Galaxy and Nova through exclusive previews, artwork, and interviews, with the site also quoted in solicitations and on comic covers. He also reported on Marvel’s Daredevil: Born Again retooling before it was later confirmed by the trades.

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