"I do feel paralyzed. I’ve put blood, sweat and tears into this role (over & over & over again)."

Erin Moriarty has seen the online hate aimed at her character on 'The Boys' and is standing up against the so-called fans of the series.

Moriarty has played Annie January AKA Starlight, for the past three seasons on the Prime Show from showrunner Eric Kripke, a character who is forced to play happy family with the egotistical Homelander (Antony Starr), the leader of The Seven. Annie grew up surrounded by superpowered beings, forced to take part in beauty pageants by her mother since she was a young child. A character who is clued up to everything, and at times headstrong and judgemental, she essentially wants justice to be served to those who use their gifts as weapons. However, she is often ogled by both characters on screen and by viewers.

There has been a certain amount of hatred spread across the internet by "fans" of 'The Boys', who view her character as speaking her mind too much. Sorry, but, isn't that what all of the rest of the characters (who are mostly men) do on the show?

The original post, titled '#IStandWithStarlight?: The Betrayal of Erin Moriarty by The Boys Fans' points at all of the Subreddits and YouTube comments that have taken aim at Starlight. It highlights the character is "a woman silenced and sexualized" and not "a human being with her own thoughts and feelings". It also goes on to say that while the character is fictional, the actor behind her is not, "because there is no switch off".

Erin took to her Instagram to thank the fan for posting this, while adding how much effort she has put into creating the character on screen. She said: "I do feel silenced. I do feel dehumanized. I do feel paralyzed. I’ve put blood, sweat, and tears into this role (over & over & over again), I’ve grown UP in this character’s shoes (*emphasis on grown up - we change & evolve mentally AND physically).

"So with that I say: a) thank you to @butcherscanary b) this does break my heart - I’ve opened up a vein for this role and this kind of trolling is exactly what this role (Annie) would speak out against and c) everyone’s going through their own battle(s); let’s not add to that.

"I will never intentionally (and ESPECIALLY) publicly add to yours. This has only strengthened my empathy muscle and to anyone who comes at me: I see you, I don’t hate you, I only empathize and forgive."

Erin's 'The Boys' co-stars have been rallying around the actor, with Antony Starr (Homelander) and Jack Quaid (Hughie) both commenting on her post. Anthony wrote: "Support you and what you say here 100%. Well put ;) Your work on the show is and always has been stellar and you are beautiful inside and out. Keep shining ;) xo."

Jack said: "Love you Erin. We’re all here for you. You’re such an incredible, talented force of nature and I consider myself incredibly lucky to know you. Keep shining bright. Leave the trolls to us. We got your back."

Watch all three seasons of 'The Boys' on Prime Video.