Julie Elven, the esteemed singer known for lending her voice to the soundtrack of Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores, has been persistently targeted with hateful messages from a segment of the game’s player base. The primary source of the controversy stems from her vocal contribution to a pivotal scene in the game, which has been accused of promoting LGBTQ+ narratives.
Please note, the following section contains plot details from Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores. Those wishing to avoid spoilers may wish to skip ahead.
In a dramatic plot twist within the game, Aloy, the main character, is revealed to be a lesbian, shown expressing her affection for another female character. This surprise development has elicited significant backlash from certain players.
Elven’s Stance on the Issue
The positive comments and influx of love absolutely outweigh the negative ones, but the continuous hateful DMs show how much still needs to change. Love is love. Story-wise, this scene made so much sense and I continue to stand with Guerrilla and am proud to be a part of it 🫶
— Julie Elven 🎶 (@JulieElvenMusic) May 15, 2023
Elven has been publicly sharing the homophobic reactions she has been receiving since the release of Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores in April. According to her, her voice’s presence in the controversial scene has prompted an influx of private messages laden with hate speech, referring to the scene as “LGBTQ+ propaganda”.
Elven has been subjected to various derogatory messages, including accusations of destroying the Horizon franchise and warnings that she won’t be forgiven.
Despite the vitriol, Elven remains steadfast, emphasizing that the positive feedback she has received far outweighs the negative. She asserts that the hateful comments only serve to highlight the pressing need for societal change, and maintains her firm belief in the universality of love. Elven has expressed her pride in being part of the project, reiterating her support for the game developers, Guerrilla.
She further clarified that her issue is not with those who simply expressed their disapproval of the storyline, but with the individuals propagating hate. Elven admits that while these hate messages do not deeply affect her personally, they serve as a stark reminder of the significant societal transformation yet to be achieved.
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