Andrew Lincoln’s Message To Fans Saying The Walking Dead Premiere Was Too Violent

It’s no secret that The Walking Dead‘s Season 7 premiere was hard to stomach. Fans were granted their wish of seeing who Negan killed with his barbed wire laced baseball bat in the show’s returning hour which made for some of the most gruesome moments on television.

Several fans have weighed in on the subject, many viewers loved the premiere but, at the same time, many saying it was too much for them and they are going to seek other entertainment on Sunday nights. Furthermore, the Parents Television Council condemned the Season 7 premiere of The Walking Dead, saying AMC “crossed the line” by airing the the mature content.

At the center of it all was Andrew Lincoln’s Rick Grimes character. Negan’s beatdown kills were to teach the Sheriff a lesson. Speaking to Lincoln in an exclusive interview on Tuesday, ComicBook.com asked the actor’s opinion on the matter and he stands by the show’s choices despite not having seen it himself.

“The problem is, I don’t watch the show,” Lincoln said. “I’m kind of allergic to my face so don’t watch the show and I haven’t watched it but I do know that the people who are responsible for makign the show take the violence extremely seriously. I know that unless it advances character and story, it doesn’t belong in the show.”

“I know that these are good friends of mine that steer the ship and I know that they take it seriously.”

As for whether or not the brutality will continue, Lincoln promises a few moments of levity and humor.

“I hate to break it to you but I do think that the show without humor and without love and hope and friendship and joy is not our show,” Lincoln said. “It’s a real mixed bag this season, it’s a very different season. I’m thrilled, I’m very excited, I think this season is magnificent and very bold and you can probably tell from the season premiere. They continue to take very big risks.”

Executive producer Greg Nicotero, who also directed the brutal episode, weighed in on the subject on Monday, saying, “That means we have done something to affect these people in a way they don’t necessarily know how to process.”

The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on AMC. For complete coverage and insider info all season long, follow @BrandonDavisBD on Twitter.