Brie Larson being a feminist has predictably seen her draw the ire of certain comic book fans, hence why there were those who criticised the Captain Marvel star for not smiling enough in posters and trailers for the $1 billion blockbuster.
Since then, the Oscar-winner has frequently come under fire for no discernable reason, with The Marvels trailer, for example, downvoted on YouTube and even supposed insiders attempting to lay the blame for the sequel's release date delay at Larson's feet.
During a recent interview with Rolling Stone to talk Secret Invasion, Nick Fury actor Samuel L. Jackson started by reflecting on how his friendship with Larson has blossomed since they first met.
"Brie’s a stronger person than people give her credit for. We had done 'Kong' together, which was not the most wonderful experience for either of us," he recalls. "We became great friends during that particular experience because we were having such a hard time."
"Then, we bonded through the election while we were doing her movie [Unicorn Store] when Donald Trump won. She was broken and I was like, 'Don’t let 'em break you. You have to be strong now.'"
When the role of Carol Danvers came Larson's way, Jackson encouraged her to join the MCU and had harsh words for those who continue to attack her online.
"When she got Captain Marvel, she called me and was like, 'They want me in the Marvel Universe. Should I do it?' And I was like, 'Hell yeah! Let’s do it!' But she’s not going to let any of that stuff destroy her."
"These incel dudes who hate strong women, or the fact that she’s a feminist who has an opinion and expressed it? Everybody wants people to be who they want them to be. She is who she is, and she’s genuinely that."
We're not surprised to see the legendary actor speak out in his friend and co-star's defence, though there will be those who are bound to be unhappy about being referred to as "incel dudes." However, it's a description we're sure many of you will likely agree with.
Jackson and Larson will next share the screen in November's The Marvels, while the first episode of Secret Invasion hit Disney+ earlier today.