With easy access to television and film nowadays, the audience who consumes these forms of entertainment will have varying levels of maturity, and as most actors and actresses can be found through social media, it is all too easy to express our feelings towards their talent and personality.

I have recently noticed an actor receiving a tremendous amount of hate for his portrayal of the character. Justin Prentice — who plays Bryce Walker from “13 Reasons Why” has had his social media bombarded with death threats from certain viewers of the show who confuse him with the character he plays.

I don’t know much about the actor as a person, but the basis on which people are attacking him is ridiculous. The association of him off-camera with the character he plays is immature, and frankly, those who believe him to be Bryce shouldn’t be allowed to watch the show.

In an age when actors and actresses are followed closely by the press and their fans, it is not rare for people to attribute certain characteristics of the on-screen character to the actor, and this reinforces a point that must be addressed: an actor is not the same person as the character they portray.

Sure, some actors will remain similar to the characters, and that is part of why they can perform so well. But many actors are talented enough that they can depict someone so far from their own personalities, and that doesn’t equate to an inner connection they have.

If you think of all the characters who have done horrible things and all the villains that are at the forefront of today’s media, it is ridiculous to believe that these actors and their characters are one and the same. Even when it comes to the heroes, the characters will often not be identical to the actors.

For the most part, these characters are fictional. But the actors who play them are real and vivid, and as such, they deserve to be treated as their own person rather than confused with someone they pretend to be. If you ever happen to meet an actor, make sure that you treat them with the respect they are owed for being themselves.

I know it is tempting to want the actors to reflect the characters — especially if they are beloved and feel real to you. But this kind of attitude can be more harmful than intended, and this mindset is the reason why actors like Justin face so much hate online. If you do see Justin Prentice and Bryce Walker as the same person, reevaluate your own logic because if you can’t see the difference, maybe you shouldn’t be allowed to watch the show in the first place.