Jeffrey Dean Morgan hits back at ‘toxic’ fans blaming Norman Reedus over Melissa McBride’s departure from The Walking Dead spin-off
Jeffrey Dean Morgan is pushing back against fans angry about Melissa McBride’s departure from a planned spinoff of The Walking Dead.
Some followers of the zombie killing thriller have blamed co-star Norman Reedus, 53, for the exit, but Jeffrey, 56, posted an angry tweet, calling them out of line.
While it was not immediately clear what Reedus has done, there was speculation from fans that the network wanted to keep him for a solo spin-off show.
Defense mode: Jeffrey Dean Morgan is coming to the defense of his The Walking Dead co-stars after Melissa McBride announced she was bowing out of a spin-off with Norman Reedus
Angry tweet: The 56-year-old actor issued an angry tweet to some ugly online messages that blamed Norman Reedus, 53, for Melissa’s departure
But Morgan was having none of it as he hit back on Thursday: ‘Some of you have gone WAY too far.’
‘Attacking Norm for c**p he has NOTHING to do with? Melissa made a call that was hers alone. She wants/needs a break. Respect that. Factors involved that are nobody’s business. Norm, who’s given more than anyone to you all. Just SH**TY.’
Melissa, 56, has starred as Carol Peletier since The Walking Dead series launched in 2010.
Carol and Norman’s character, Daryl Dixon, stuck out as fan favorites early on and both were supposed to appear in a Carol-Daryl spin-off but Melissa decided to bow out.
In announcing the change of plans, AMC issued a statement explaining the Kentucky native’s reasoning behind the move.
‘Unfortunately, she is no longer able to participate in the previously announced spin-off focused on the Daryl Dixon and Carol Peletier characters, which will be set and filmed in Europe this summer and premiere next year.’
Fan favorites: The characters of Carol and Daryl stuck out as fan favorites early on. Both were supposed to appear in a spin-off until Melissa backed our for personal reasons
Veterans: Both Norman and Melissa have been with the popular apocalyptic show since it launched in 2010. Seen here at Comic Con in 2019
‘Relocating to Europe became logistically untenable for Melissa at this time. We know fans will be disappointed by this news, but The Walking Dead Universe continues to grow and expand in interesting ways and we very much hope to see Carol again in the near future.’
There’s no news yet as to who, if anyone, will replace Melissa, or if the Zombie killing spin-off will proceed as scheduled.
Sources have said other plans for Melissa/Carol are being discussed.
Gone, but not forgotten: Sources have said other plans for Melissa/Carol are being discussed, seen her in September 2019
Jeffrey, who plays villain Negan, is set to star in his own spinoff, co-starring Lauren Cohan as Maggie. The show will be set in New York.
Part two of the series The Walking Dead finale aired April 10.
Fans can look forward to the final ending later this year.
More to come: Jeffrey, who plays Negan, is getting his own New York based spin-off that will co-star TWD veteran Lauren Cohan as Maggie