Game of Thrones’ Jacob Anderson clarifies comment about Grey Worm ‘dying a horrible death by butterflies’

Jacob Anderson has insisted that his Game Of Thrones character Grey Worm survived his trip out of King’s Landing despite fan theories that he most likely died. 

The 29-year-old, who also goes by the alias Raleigh Richie, portrayed one of the few characters to survive the season eight finale in May. 

But in a previous interview, the actor joked that “Grey Worm dies a horrible death by butterflies”, which left viewers in a frenzy over the fate of the leader of the Unsullied Army. 

Speaking exclusively to Standard Online as he launched his new AW19 campaign with ellese, Anderson set the record straight and cleared up his previous statement by pointing out the differences between the book and the TV adaptation. 

In the original novels by George R.R. Martin, those born and raised in Naath, including Grey Worm’s late love interest Missandei, are immune to the butterflies said to carry a gruesome disease that makes flesh fall off people’s bones.

Explaining he was actually making a joke about the island – which is where Grey Worm and his army were heading – Anderson admitted: “I love that it has become a thing.

“It was a thing in the books, but it’s become actual speculation now,” he continued. 

“I said in an interview [with Insider] that that’s probably what will happen but, no, I think the book and the show are different. I think he definitely made it. 

“That’s what I want, he’s like, he had a job to do. He had to go and fulfil his promise to Missandei, that was part of his promise.

“I like to think romantically, that the Unsullied made it without a hitch and it was all good.” 

Anderson laughed heartily when talking about the prospect of the Unsullied, arguably the greatest Army in the franchise, meeting their match in a bunch of insects. 

“It would be quite funny but it would slightly undermine everything that came before it,” he joked. 

Although the actor and singer has found humour in the finale, many fans worldwide were not happy with the direction the final episodes went in. 

As some viewers rallied around to sign a petition demanding for the creators to rewrite the last season, multiple cast members spoke about suffering at the hands of online trolls. 

When asked if his social media pages still attracted negative messages from fans, Anderson, who is preparing for the release of his new album, questioned what people expected him to do. 

“Firstly, it’s such a subjective thing,” he reasoned. “Some people are going to love it and some people are going to hate it and that’s always going to be down to taste.

“So if somebody has a problem with it and they kind of tell me about… I don’t know what they expect me to do.” 

Anderson, also a record producer, added: “So it doesn’t really bother me, because I can’t help it. I had the time of my life shooting the show, it was amazing and I’m really grateful to be a part of something that people really care about so much.” 

The star recently collaborated with Italian fashion brand ellesse, to launch their For The Win campaign.

On his involvement with the fashion house, Anderson revealed: “I’ve been wearing ellesse since I was a kid. I’ve been a fan of theirs for a very long time. First, I was honoured that they wanted to work with me and collaborate on something.” 

Grey Worm was originally a boy taken into slavery by the Good Masters of Astapor, and later became the chosen commander of the Unsullied, the warrior-eunuchs of Astapor, whose reputation for combat was unmatched.

At the start of the last and eight season, Grey Worm promised Missandei that, after war, he will take her back to the Isle of Naath along with the Unsullied to protect them.

In scenes that shocked fans, Missandei was executed in front of Grey Worm at the command of Queen Cersei making his journey to Naath even more poignant. 

The Overlord star, as Raleigh Richie, released his first album, You’re a Man Now, Boy, in February 2016.  It debuted on the Official Albums Chart, peaking at number thirty-two before he also featured on Stormzy’s  Gang Signs & Prayer the following year.

The singer, who was nominated for Best Newcomer at the MOBO Awards in 2014, is prepping his next album. 

He concluded: “My album is nearly finished, and that will be out very soon.” 

Jacob Anderson currently features in the ellesse AW19 For The Win campaign. For The Win reinforces the brand’s winning mindset, defining winning as more than just an outcome but as a style, confidence and attitude. Further information on the collection can be found at ellesse.com.