Former Superman Dean Cain Just Picked the Wrong Fight With Supergirl Fans

Few people understand the weight of the Superman cape better than Dean Cain — which is exactly why his latest social media activity has gone down so badly. The former Lois & Clark star is facing a furious backlash after laughing along with a post mocking the appearance of Milly Alcock, the 26-year-old actress weeks away from leading DC's new Supergirl film.

The row began on Sunday when Cain, 59, shared a promotional image of Alcock in costume and asked how Supergirl could have pierced ears if her skin is bulletproof. When one reply compared the Australian actress to Cha-Ka, the ape-like character from the 1970s series Land of the Lost, Cain responded: "Dang it… I laughed." The exchange has since racked up more than 4.5 million views — and a wave of condemnation to match.

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Fans Accuse Him of Punching Down

The criticism was swift and pointed. Many argued that a man who once embodied the most decent character in fiction should have defended a fellow DC star rather than joining the pile-on, particularly one at the very start of her first major film role. "What a fantastic way to kill your legacy," wrote one critic, while others said the moment had permanently soured their memories of his time in the cape.

Cain pushed back as the backlash grew, insisting he never said the actress was ugly and appearing largely unmoved by the outrage. A smaller camp defended him, arguing he had simply laughed at a joke about a promotional image rather than attacked Alcock herself. But for his critics, the choice to engage at all was the problem — and it fits a pattern. The actor previously accused James Gunn of making Superman woke after the director described the character as an immigrant, and last year drew headlines by signing up as an honorary ICE agent. Gunn, for his part, has weighed in on the ear-piercing debate himself.

All Eyes on Supergirl

Alcock, who shot to fame as young Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon and made a brief appearance in last year's Superman, has not responded to the furore. Her standalone film, directed by Craig Gillespie and co-starring David Corenswet and Jason Momoa, lands in cinemas on 26 June in a crowded summer of blockbuster anticipation. Industry tracking suggests an opening weekend of around 55 million dollars — well below the 125 million debut of last year's Superman — making the next fortnight a crucial one.

If there is a silver lining for Alcock, it is the sheer volume of support now flooding social media in her defence. A former Superman may have laughed at her — but an army of fans has made it clear whose side they are on.