There is a thin line separating being a fan and being a fanatic—and most fans easily tip over to the latter without even knowing it. Resident Evil 4 remake actress Lily Gao who played the role of Ada Wong is the recent recipient of fans’ misguided hate. It appears fanatics have succeeded in driving her off the internet—or so it seems.
Soon after the release of Resident Evil 4 remake some fans criticized Gao’s acting. Others took it a step further by sliding into her Instagram to harass her.
“Your voice acting was horrible in Resident Evil 4 remake,” wrote one of the commenters. “It sounded super stiff and there was nothing seductive about it. It didn’t fit at all omfg I hope they don’t hire you as Ada’s voice actor for another game.”
Consequently, she either deleted or hid all her posts on the platform remaining one talking about the role of privilege in society posted in 2020. She also deactivated comments on the post.
While there is nothing wrong with constructive criticism, the internet has made it easy for people to cross the line, hiding behind their keypads. Interestingly, sometimes those guilty of crossing the line are vocal minorities—which many suspect to be the case with Resident Evil 4 remake.
Thankfully, some fans are rallying on her side to show support as well as reiterate her excellent acting in the remake. Gao also acted as Ada Wong in the 2021 Welcome to Raccoon City Resident Evil movie. She was also fingered for future Netflix’s Resident Evil series before the show was eventually canceled.
Gao’s case is pathetic and no one should ever be personally harassed the way she was. While her case may have come to the fore, there are many more harassed daily that never get anyone to speak up for them. Gao’s break from the internet is totally understandable but we hope she bounces back.
Why was Lily Gao harassed for voicing Wong in Resident Evil 4 Remake?
A lot of people have been wondering why Lily Gao was harassed for playing the role of Ada Wong in Resident Evil 4 remake. Well, the reason goes back to Resident Evil 2 remake. RE2 is still considered the turning point of the franchise.
Eventually, some of the resources, character models, and assets from RE2 were modernized and carried over to other Resident Evil chapters—and they are truly iconic. In Resident Evil 2 remake, Ada Wong was played by Jolene Andersen and fans quickly fell in love with her acting.
Fans praised Andersen’s portrayal of Wong in a playful and coy manner that was totally distinct. Therefore, most fans thought that she would be recalled for Resident Evil 4 remake. Surprisingly, she was replaced by Lily Gao. Some fans considered the voice change jarring and took out their frustration on Gao.
According to Game Rant, “the change is upsetting because it causes an awkward dissonance between Resident Evil 2 remake and Resident Evil 4 remake”.
The harassment of Gao is a clear indication of how intolerant some gamers have become to change. However, considering the fact that Resident Evil 4 remake may get DLCs, fans have to get used to Gao’s voice as Wong unless Capcom decides otherwise.
With more Resident Event remakes likely coming up in the future, Capcom may stick with Gao, revert to Andersen, or cast a new actor for the role. We just have to wait to find out. Arguably, the criticism—if any was necessary at all—should be on Capcom for their choice of actors and not on the actors.
Resident Evil 4 remake is one of the most anticipated games of 2023. So far, it has lived up to its expectations according to most reviews.
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