Dean Cain is going through backlash after showing to chuckle at a viral meme mocking “Supergirl” star Milly Alcock’s look. The previous “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman” actor sparked outrage on-line after responding to a social media publish that in contrast the 26-year-old actress to Cha-ka, the ape-like character from the 1974 tv sequence “Land of the Misplaced.” The alternate rapidly gained traction amongst superhero followers, lots of whom accused Cain of unnecessarily focusing on Alcock as she prepares to steer certainly one of DC’s greatest upcoming movies.
The controversy started after a user on X, previously Twitter, shared an unflattering picture of Cha-ka alongside a photograph of Alcock and requested, “And why does she seem like this man?”
Cain responded to the publish with: “Dang it… I laughed,” adopted by a smiling emoji.
The response instantly drew criticism, notably from followers who argued the longtime “Superman” actor ought to have defended a fellow DC star somewhat than take part on the joke. “What a implausible solution to kill your legacy, @RealDeanCain,” one critic wrote. “And what a wonderful solution to lose the respect of thousands and thousands of children that seemed as much as you three a long time in the past. What a shame.”
One other fan claimed Cain’s conduct had completely modified how they considered his time as Superman. “Your Superman efficiency is rarely going to be seemed again upon fondly, your bitter jealousy has tainted any legacy you had left,” one other individual wrote.
As criticism mounted, Cain later clarified that he “by no means stated she was ugly,” although he appeared largely unfazed by the backlash surrounding the viral alternate.
Milly Alcock Beforehand Opened Up About Scrutiny Towards Ladies In Franchises
The backlash comes months after Alcock acknowledged she anticipated criticism forward of the “Supergirl” launch, notably after her expertise starring in HBO’s “Home of the Dragon.” Talking to Vanity Fair in April, Alcock mirrored on the extreme scrutiny ladies usually face inside main fandoms.
“It undoubtedly made me conscious that merely present as a girl in that house is one thing that individuals touch upon,” she stated. “We now have turn into very snug having this bizarre possession of girls’s our bodies. I can’t actually cease them. I can solely be myself.”
Her feedback later sparked debate on-line, with some critics evaluating Alcock to “Snow White” actress Rachel Zegler, one other younger star who discovered herself at the center of franchise backlash.
Rachel Zegler Additionally Confronted Intense Scrutiny Over Look And Id
Like Alcock, Zegler faced intense scrutiny while stepping into an iconic role, later admitting the criticism surrounding Disney’s 2025 live-action “Snow White” turned deeply private. Due to her Colombian heritage, Zegler confronted aggressive pushback from critics who argued Snow White must be portrayed by a white actress.
Talking to Harper’s Bazaar, the actress admitted the response was troublesome to course of, particularly as a result of she had beforehand confronted criticism whereas starring as Maria in 2021’s “West Facet Story.” “I used to be advised I wasn’t sufficient of 1 factor for ‘West Facet Story’ and an excessive amount of of one other for ‘Snow White,’” Zegler shared.
The actress stated the expertise left her questioning how mixed-race performers are perceived in Hollywood and on-line areas. “I grew up pleased with being Colombian,” she stated. “Consuming the meals, sporting the clothes, consuming the espresso, doing all of the issues that have been so intrinsic to who I used to be as a child and who I’m as an grownup.”
Nonetheless, Zegler admitted public response generally made her really feel caught between identities. “I do suppose there’s an argument to be made that, within the public eye not less than, once you’re two issues, you’re concurrently nothing,” she defined. “However I refuse to assimilate for anyone else’s consolation.”
For some followers, the criticism surrounding each Zegler and Alcock highlights a rising sample of intense scrutiny geared toward younger ladies getting into iconic franchise roles.
‘Supergirl’ Already Faces An Uphill Battle At The Field Workplace
The Alcock-Cain controversy additionally arrives as anticipation builds for “Supergirl,” the second theatrical launch in DC’s rebooted cinematic universe.
Alcock briefly appeared in final yr’s “Superman,” which grossed greater than $618 million worldwide and served as an introduction to her upcoming standalone movie. Nonetheless, early projections recommend “Supergirl” might wrestle to match that momentum.
In accordance with Deadline, the film is presently monitoring for a $55 million opening weekend, considerably under the $125 million debut of Superman final yr. The outlet additionally reported the movie carries an estimated manufacturing price range of roughly $175 million, excluding advertising and marketing prices.
James Gunn Additionally Addressed ‘Supergirl’ Criticism Head-On
As debate surrounding “Supergirl” continues on-line, director James Gunn has additionally discovered himself stepping in to deal with criticism tied to the movie.
Gunn, whose 2025 “Superman” film sparked backlash from some conservative viewers over its immigrant origin story, lately responded on to on-line dialogue surrounding Alcock’s look as Kara Zor-El.
After social media customers questioned elements of the character’s look, Gunn defended the inventive decisions behind the reboot whereas providing an in-universe clarification. “As defined in ‘Superman,’ the identical means she will get drunk, she goes to a planet with a purple solar. To not point out, she was raised on a piece of Krypton, so didn’t even expertise superpowers till her teenagers,” Gunn wrote on Threads.
Regardless of the web criticism, “Supergirl” remains to be anticipated to be a significant check for DC’s evolving cinematic future when it hits theaters later this month.
