'Eighth Grade' star brushes off cyber-bullies after backlash to 'Bohemian Rhapsody' tweet

NEW YORK — Elsie Fisher knows a thing or two about cyber-bullies, having played the social-media-savvy teen heroine of comedy "Eighth Grade." 

But on Sunday, the 15-year-old actress had an unfortunate experience with the real thing, after she enthusiastically tweeted her excitement over "Bohemian Rhapsody's" Golden Globe wins for best drama and actor (Rami Malek). 

"IM SO HAPPY RAMI MALEK AND BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY WON GOLDEN GLOBES," she wrote. "IM THRILLED TONIGHT IS THE BEST NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Fisher's elation didn't sit well with some Twitter users, given that "Bohemian" has been accused of "straightwashing" its subject, Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, who was bisexual. The biopic was also directed by disgraced filmmaker Bryan Singer, who was fired from the project during production following multiple allegations of sexual assault. 

"This is why Eighth Grade lost," one person wrote in response to Fisher's tweet, while others lashed out at the young Golden Globe nominee directly, writing, "Elsie please no" and "This is why you didn't win." 

Fisher was initially surprised by the negative reactions, she told USA TODAY at the New York Film Critics Circle awards dinner Monday night, where she was on hand to support "Eighth Grade" director Bo Burnham. 

"I wasn't informed on the entire situation about the director of the movie. I just honestly didn't know," said Fisher, who later issued a lengthy apology on Twitter. "It's no big deal. People have been really kind about it," with many praising her mature response to online trolls. 

Luckily for those of us who follow her, Fisher has no plans to stop tweeting. 

"If I make mistakes, I want to give an example for how people should react to (critics) on social media," Fisher said. "I feel like if I were to stop, that would be me giving in. People should just be more civil." 

And what of Malek? Fisher posted a tearful (but happy!) selfie from inside the Beverly Hilton ballroom immediately following his Globes win Sunday, but says the two never got to actually meet face to face. 

"I did make eye contact, though," she says. "We were like, waving at each other, so that was amazing."