Jenny Han Shuts Down 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' Fans: Controversial Comments Stir Cast's Backlash!

Jenny Han, the creator of The Summer I Turned Pretty, is speaking out against the recent negative comments aimed at the cast, particularly towards new star Elsie Fisher. In an Instagram Story on July 20, Han emphasized the hard work put in by the cast and crew to create a show that they hope viewers will love. She expressed excitement about sharing the show with fans and noted that The Summer I Turned Pretty community prioritizes inclusivity. Han called for people to be considerate of the impact of their words, highlighting that hurtful comments are not aligned with the show's spirit.

In season 2, the audience was introduced to Skye, portrayed by Conrad (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah's (Gavin Casalegno) cousin. Skye identifies as non-binary and visits Cousins Beach with their mother Julia (Kyra Sedgwick). Julia plans to sell the beach house following the passing of Skye's sister Susannah (Rachel Blanchard).

While some viewers were unhappy about Skye's addition to the cast, as they were not part of the original Summer I Turned Pretty book series, other fans quickly showed their support for Han's post. This came after Fisher (20) faced criticism for playing the role of Skye.

"This needed to be addressed. It is extremely disheartening to see the numerous derogatory comments about Elsie (especially on TikTok). Mocking their appearance, attacking their character without even knowing them, misgendering them, and more, is absolutely repulsive. I genuinely hope that Elsie is okay," commented a concerned viewer regarding the disrespectful behavior towards Skye.

Elsie Fisher, portraying the character Skye, has been subjected to online harassment by trolls. A different social media commentator pointed out the absurdity of attacking Fisher and their portrayal, advising those with complaints to simply refrain from watching the show. This commentator further emphasized the need for Jenny, presumably another person involved with the show, to intervene and address such behavior, placing the blame on the trolls rather than on Fisher.

Fisher, who has not yet responded to the discussions about Skye's inclusion in the show, previously expressed anxiety about joining the popular Prime Video series.

"I am pleasantly surprised by how amazing it turned out to be. Especially since I was nervous about joining a show that was already established," said Fisher, who does not have a pronoun preference, in an interview with E! News in October 2022. "We have the opportunity to create a completely new character. What really attracted me to this project is that I can portray a character that still reflects my true self, but is different from the roles I have played in the past."

Fisher's addition coincided with Minnie Mills' announcement that she would not be reprising her role as Shayla in the upcoming season.

Expressing her gratitude, the 21-year-old actress took to Instagram in April to convey her appreciation for the opportunity to play Shayla. She stated that portraying Shayla allowed her to learn and grow as both an actor and an individual. Being able to represent a character she had always longed to see on screen was a dream come true and held immense significance for her. She further emphasized that Shayla was unapologetically herself, challenging the stereotypes often associated with women of color and asian characters in the industry, where they are typically defined by white men or only gain visibility through their interactions with white counterparts.

Mills expressed, "For all those who cherished Shayla, who found strength and motivation through her, she will forever remain in the initial season, ready to be revisited whenever you require her. If the opportunity arises, I would be thrilled to carry on with her narrative. I am grateful for your unwavering support of both Shayla and myself. For my debut acting role, I couldn't have hoped for a more exceptional ensemble, production team, or character, and I eagerly anticipate what lies ahead."

Episodes of The Summer I Turned Pretty can be streamed on Prime Video every Friday.