Henry Cavill, known for his roles as Superman and Geralt of Rivia, is once again in the public eye—not for his on-screen performances, but for something far more personal: his love life. Last month, Cavill made waves when he publicly confirmed his relationship with television executive Natalie Viscuso. The 38-year-old actor shared an Instagram photo of the two seated at a chessboard, captioning the image: “This is me looking quietly confident shortly before my beautiful and brilliant love Natalie, destroys me at chess.”

However, despite the seemingly heartwarming post, the couple’s low-key relationship has attracted plenty of attention—and not all of it has been positive. While Cavill is generally known for his privacy, the speculation surrounding his personal life seems to have reached a boiling point, prompting him to speak out directly to his fans.

In a vulnerable Instagram post shared recently, Cavill expressed frustration with the growing “social animosity” in his feed. He acknowledged the passion from his fans but made it clear that their “speculation” and “criticism” had crossed a line. “Now, while I do appreciate the passion and support by those very people who are ‘speculating’, it has come to such a point that I needed to say something, which in itself, is a bad thing,” he said.

The actor, who has previously discussed the toll that public scrutiny takes on his personal relationships, added that while he understood the curiosity and even the occasional gossip, the “passion” surrounding his love life had become harmful. “Your ‘passion’ is misplaced, and it causes harm to the people I care about most,” Cavill stated. “Even your most conservative of negative assumptions about both my personal and professional life just aren’t true.”

This isn’t the first time Cavill has addressed public interest in his relationships. In a 2017 interview with The Rake, he acknowledged that he found it flattering when people cared about his life but emphasized that he would draw the line when it started affecting those closest to him.

In his latest message, Cavill urged fans to embrace a more positive approach to social media. “Let’s embrace this age of social enlightenment together, and move forward with positivity,” he said. “I am very happy in love, and in life. I’d be enormously grateful if you were happy with me. If you can’t bring yourself to be happy with me, then at the very least try to do yourself proud and be the best version of yourself.”

The actor’s plea for respect comes amid criticism that has seemingly targeted Viscuso and the couple’s relationship in general. Some fans have expressed their discontent with Cavill’s romantic choice, and his Instagram comments reveal the passionate but divisive nature of the commentary. To mitigate further backlash, Cavill disabled comments on his recent post, signaling his desire for more control over the conversation.

At the heart of Cavill’s message is a call for empathy. He is reminding his fans that their love for him should not translate into negativity toward those he holds dear. The actor’s decision to address the situation head-on—offering a direct, heartfelt response to the scrutiny—demonstrates his commitment to protecting his personal boundaries, even if it means stepping out of his typically private world.

Cavill’s message is clear: his love life is his own, and while he appreciates the support of his fans, he urges them to direct their passion in a way that fosters respect and positivity. After all, being a fan is about celebrating someone’s happiness, not tearing it down.