"The 100" showrunner Jason Rothenberg has issued an apology to the fans for the way the death of Lexa (Alycia Debnam-Carey) was handled. Members of the LGBTQ community were disappointed when Lexa was killed off after sharing a brief love scene with Clarke (Eliza Taylor) in "The 100" Season 3 episode 7 "Thirteen," which aired on March 3 on The CW.
In the statement posted on Medium three weeks after the episode, Rothernberg said he spent much time reading articles, blogs, letters and tweets from "passionate women and men of all ages who were angered and saddened" by Lexa's death. He then thanked the fans because he has gained perspective.
Still, Rothenberg did not express regret over the decision to kill off Lexa, which was necessary Debnam-Carey is joing the cast of another TV series. He wrote, "I still write and produce television for the real world where negative and hurtful tropes exist. And I am very sorry for not recognizing this as fully as I should have."
Rothenberg noted that Lexa's death "would have played out differently" knowing everything he knows now. He clarified that "burying, baiting or hurting" anyone was never their intention.
In addition, the "The 100" showrunner acknowledged that he has been "powerfully reminded" in the real world, there are LGBTQ teens suffering from repeated discrimination and depression that make them more prone to commit suicide as compared to their straight peers. He pointed out that the odds faced by LGBTQ women in real life face are tougher than the ones faced by TV characters that are still far from fully representing the diverse lives of the audience.
Meanwhile, days after the apology was issued, "WE LOVE ELIZA TAYLOR" trended on Twitter. Taylor's onscreen romance with Debnam-Carey is not likely to be rekindled, however, as the latter has been included in the regular cast of "Fear the Walking Dead" Season 2 as Alicia Clark.
While "The 100" Season 3 episode 9 titled "Stealing Fire" is set to air on March 31, "Fear the Walking Dead" Season 2 is scheduled to premiere on April 10 on AMC with episode 1 titled "No Safe Harbor."
Among Debnam-Carey's "Fear the Walking Dead" co-stars is Frank Dillane. In a recent interview with Express, the latter said he does not watch "Game of Thrones," in which his father Stephen Dillane played Stannis Baratheon, "for a few reasons."
Watch an interview with Debnam-Carey and her former "The 100" co-star Adina Porter here: