Batwoman Star Ruby Rose Quits Twitter After Casting Backlash

Last week, it was announced that the role of Batwoman in The CW's DC shows will be played by The Meg and John Wick: Chapter 2 star Ruby Rose. Rose will make her debut as the character in this fall's crossover between the four shows in the network's Arrow-verse, before headlining a standalone Batwoman show in 2019. However, the star has now quit Twitter because of the backlash she has suffered as a result.

As reported by Variety, Rose has become the target of trolls who have expressed their displeasure at her casting. The current incarnation of Batwoman--aka Kate Cane--first appeared in DC comics in 2006 and is an openly gay character. Rose herself is an out lesbian and has described opinions that she wasn't right for the role as "ridiculous."

Before deleting her account, she wrote: "Where on Earth did 'Ruby is not a lesbian therefore she can't be Batwoman' come from--has to be the funniest most ridiculous thing I've ever read. I came out at 12? And have for the past 5 years had to deal with 'she’s too gay' how do y'all flip it like that? I didn't change. I wish we would all support each other and our journeys."

The actress signed off by stating that she was taking a "break from Twitter to focus all my energy on my next 2 projects. If you need me, I’ll be on my Bat Phone."

Rose is the latest star who has been forced to quit social media as a result of targeted abuse. In June, Star Wars: The Last Jedi star Kelly Marie Tran abandoned her Instagram account, and was soon followed by Stranger Things' Millie Bobbie Brown, who similarly left Twitter.

Rose will appear in the The CW's annual crossover this fall, which will incorporate The Flash, Supergirl, Arrow, and Legends of Tomorrow. The Batwoman show is expected to premiere in the fall of 2019, and will be executively produced by The Vampire Diaries showrunner Caroline Dries.

Rose is also one of the stars of The Meg, the shark thriller which is currently at the top of US box office. The movie opened last Friday and made a massive $44 million in its first weekend, which was twice the predicted opening gross.