Jennifer Lawrence reveals ‘you should die’ backlash over TV romance opinion
The Oscar-winning actress has opened up about the hostile reaction to her support for Jeremiah Fisher in The Summer I Turned Pretty, while admitting she also favoured Gale Hawthorne over Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games.
Jennifer Lawrence has revealed supporting the wrong character in The Summer I Turned Pretty sparked what she described as the biggest backlash of her career – with some viewers sending her abusive messages over her choice in the television drama’s love triangle.
The Oscar-winning actress, 36, discussed the reaction during an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast on Wednesday (28.10.26), more than a year after the third and final season of the Prime Video series concluded.
Jennifer had publicly supported Jeremiah Fisher, played by Gavin Casalegno, 27, rather than his brother Conrad, portrayed by Christopher Briney, 28, in the romantic drama adapted from Jenny Han’s bestselling novels.
Jennifer said: “I said that I was team Jeremiah.”
She added: “The level of hate that I got was bigger than any controversy I’ve ever been involved in in my life.”
The Hunger Games star explained she had initially enjoyed provoking her friends by supporting Jeremiah, whose relationship with the central character, Isabel “Belly” Conklin, divides viewers of the series.
Jennifer said: “I feel like I was rage baiting slightly ‘cause I did it with my friends. I’d be like, ‘I like Jeremiah’, and they’d be like, ‘Ugh’.”
She continued: “I thought it was innocent. It was not. People were like, ‘You should die.’”
The series, created by Jenny Han, 46, follows Belly, played by Lola Tung, 23, as she navigates relationships with the two Fisher brothers during summers spent at the fictional coastal community of Cousins Beach.
The third season, released in 2025, brought the central romantic storyline to its conclusion, prompting extensive debate among viewers over whether Belly should choose Jeremiah or Conrad.
Jennifer said the strength of the reaction had surprised her, despite having spent much of her adult life in the public eye.
She added: “I’ve been involved in a lot and I’ve pissed off the public many, many times.”
Jennifer also said: “I’m old. I’ve been famous for decades. It never occurred to me that that would be the number one where people were just like, ‘I wish you had never been born’.”
The actress had previously defended her preference for Jeremiah during an interview with streaming platform Mubi in 2025.
Jennifer said: “I'm Team Jeremiah, I am. I think that Conrad is toxic.”
She explained: “Like he kind of liked her, but then he didn't and he left her hanging.”
Discussing Conrad’s decision to confess his feelings shortly before Belly’s planned wedding, Jennifer said: “For him to confess his love to her the night before her wedding is sick.”
She also acknowledged at the time that her opinion might prove unpopular with viewers.
Jennifer said: “Rake me over the coals.”
The actress also revealed her preference for controversial romantic pairings extended to The Hunger Games, the film franchise in which she played Katniss Everdeen across four films.
Her character was caught between two potential partners – childhood friend Gale Hawthorne, played by Liam Hemsworth, 36, and fellow Hunger Games competitor Peeta Mellark, portrayed by Josh Hutcherson, 34.
Jennifer said: “I was team Gale.”
She added: “Even after he killed my sister.”
The remark referred to the death of Katniss’ younger sister Primrose during the events of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2. The film links the attack that kills Primrose to a bombing strategy developed by Gale, although he does not personally carry out the attack.
Jennifer rose to international prominence through the dystopian franchise, which began with The Hunger Games in 2012 and concluded its original four-film run in 2015.
She also received an Academy Award for her performance in Silver Linings Playbook, starring opposite Bradley Cooper, 51, and Robert De Niro, 83.
Her other films include American Hustle, Joy, Don't Look Up and the psychological drama Die My Love, directed by Lynne Ramsay, 56, and co-starring Robert Pattinson, 40.
