Straight out of the shadowy depths of the Upside Down, Jamie Campbell Bower has stepped from nightmare villain to real-life headline as he lands in the middle of a full-blown Hollywood stir. In a world where celebrity romances are practically a sport, his rumored relationship with YouTuber Elena Taber has become the latest obsession. Whispers turned to roars as fans picked apart their every move—until Bower, ever the dark prince with a loyal heart, rose to defend his queen.
Jamie Campbell Bower shocked the internet by flipping the script—not as Vecna, but as Elena Taber’s knight.
Jamie Campbell Bower stands tall for Elena Taber amid criticism
In a recent post on X, Jamie Campbell Bower dropped a bombshell tweet: “Right logging off for a bit because saying what needed to be said has shaken me up a bit. X”
His reported relationship with Elena Taber has stirred intense criticism, fueled by whispers from his past with Jess Maloney—a breakup neither Bower nor Maloney ever publicly addressed. Now, with Taber caught in the crossfire, Bower has finally spoken up, delivering a fiery response that shook the internet to its core.
Right logging off for a bit because saying what needed to be said has shaken me up a bit. X
— Jamie Campbell Bower (@Jamiebower) May 6, 2025
Fans escalated things by creating a fake account, @taberinfluencer, to target Elena Taber, shortly after the two were spotted together in London. Bower quickly responded, commenting on X beneath a post, seemingly making it clear that anyone supporting that account is not someone he wants to align with. It was a direct and unapologetic statement of his stance. While this is not the first time the internet has seen Bower upset, earlier this year, he also spoke about the emotional toll playing his
Things
character, Vecna, had on him.
Jamie Campbell Bower, 36, revealed how embodying Vecna in Stranger Things
left a lasting mark on his mental health.
From Vecna to vulnerable: Jamie Campbell Bower talks mental health struggles after Stranger Things
At MegaCon Orlando on February 9, Jamie Campbell Bower got real about why he is ready to step away from villain roles. During a panel, he shared a conversation with his therapist, revealing the toll his dark characters have taken on his mental health. Bower explained that he had told his therapist he no longer planned to play another villain anytime soon. He emphasized that he was “dead serious”
about prioritizing his well-being.
Bower, who endured grueling eight-hour makeup sessions to transform into Vecna, admitted the role took a serious toll on him mentally. While he expressed deep gratitude for being part of Stranger Things
and called the experience an incredible journey, Bower shared that he feels ready to step away from the character and everything that comes with it. With the final season’s teaser on the horizon
and his personal life under public scrutiny, Bower’s decision to prioritize mental health and step back from social media feels both necessary and admirable.
What do you think about Jamie Campbell Bower defending Elena Taber? Let us know in the comments below.