The Vampire Diaries star responds to online criticism as he heads 'back to the gym'
The Vampire Diaries star responds to online criticism as he heads 'back to the gym'
Liz FosterSun, October 11, 2026 at 5:44 PM UTC
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Steven R. McQueen responded to comments on social media with his first Instagram post in nearly five years -Credit:Getty Images North America (Getty Images North America)
Just days after causing a stir online at a fan convention in France, Steven R. McQueen of The Vampire Diaries offered fans an update.
On October 3, McQueen appeared at the Forever Mystic Falls Fan Meet in Paris. The 38-year-old McQueen played Jeremy Gilbert, the younger brother of Nina Dobrev’s Elena Gilbert. After the actor appeared at the event looking different from his early-20s, he faced a series of comments online, with some social media users targeting his looks. The criticism sparked a response from McQueen.
“Back to the gym. Any music suggestions?” he wrote in the caption of an Instagram post showing McQueen facing the camera in a head-on selfie. This comes after one The Vampire Diaries star broke fans' hearts with a major announcement.
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"Sorry you experienced so much criticism. I hope you are doing this for you and not the haters. You're perfect as is. As for music, here is a playlist I put together on Spotify,” wrote one fan in the comment section of McQueen’s photo.
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“Your worth has never been defined by your weight or your appearance. Be kind to yourself, take your time, and never let cruel words make you forget who you are. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone,” reads another message.
'Back to the gym. Any music suggestions?' he wrote in the caption of an Instagram post -Credit:steven_r_mcqueen/Instagram
“Pls do it for YOU and not for the mean people,” wrote a third supporter. Another advised, “Dont let anybodys negativity bring you down.”
“Steven McQueen, you are still fine as f– and I love you STILL,” posted one X user.
“Imagine bullying a person who stepped away from the public in 2021; this is why I would not interact with the public at all. I hope Steven R McQueen is doing things for himself because the public is trash for bullying him so bad,” added another.
McQueen’s post on October 8 marked his first return to Instagram in nearly five years. His last upload was a photo of a jar filled with plastic bags, with the actor supporting wildlife conservation efforts as he explained that seals often mistake these bags for jellyfish.
His philanthropic work extends outside of promoting wildlife conservation and includes organizations such as the Pacific Marine Mammal Center. He is also an avid supporter of The Thirst Project, which helps to bring clean drinking water to communities around the world. McQueen has also shown support for the foster care-focused non-profit TECHO and Echoes of Hope.
The Forever Mystic Falls Fan Meet celebrated The Vampire Diaries franchise and featured appearances from the show's stars -Credit:Getty Images
The Forever Mystic Falls Fan Meet celebrated The Vampire Diaries franchise and featured appearances from other stars from the hit CW show such as Ian Somerhalder, Paul Wesley, Kat Graham, and Riley Voelkel. Nikki Reed of the Twilight franchise served as a bonus guest.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
