Samuel L Jackson defends Brie Larson as he condemns online abuse from ‘incel dudes who hate strong women’

The Hollywood icon has starred alongside Larson, 33, in films such as Kong: Skull Island, Unicorn Store and most notably, 2019’s Captain Marvel.

It was in the latter film that Larson, who played lead Carol Danvers in the MCU spin-off, experienced vile online abuse after her casting as the superhero was announced.

Years later, Jackson has condemned the abuse levelled at the Oscar-winning star, who he bonded with while filming Kong: Skull Island, claiming she was targeted by “incel dudes who hate strong women”.

He told Rolling Stone: “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.

“We became great friends during that particular experience because we were having such a hard time.”

After discussing their friendship, Jackson went on share the advice he gave Larson in a bid to overcome the outpouring of negativity directed towards her.

He recalled: “She was broken and I was like, ‘Don’t let ‘em break you. You have to be strong now. Then, 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 [online abuse] 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.”

Jackson has played the character of Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for more than a decade, appearing in 13 films.