Ed Gein actor facing backlash after revealing 'beautiful' reason he visited killer's grave

The actor who played Ed Gein in the latest Monsters series has opened up on how he let the role go after filming ended - and it's caused some controversy.

For those who haven't had a chance to watch yet, Sons of Anarchy star Charlie Hunnam plays the lead role, stepping into the shoes of the American serial killer and grave robber.

Gein gained worldwide notoriety in the 1950s for his horrific crimes, which included using body parts to make household items and other objects such as lamps and masks.

It's understandable that stepping into such a role would be difficult for any actor, as we saw with Evan Peters when he played Jeffrey Dahmer in season one.

A year on from the series coming out, Peters said he was still 'processing it' and had to take a long break from acting after taking on the role.

Charlie Hunnam plays the role of Ed Gein in the controversial show (Netflix)

And now, Hunnam has revealed the controversial way he let go of Gein when his time in the role came to an end.

Speaking at the New York red carpet premiere of the Netflix series, in a video shared by AP News, he revealed that he visited Gein's grave in Plainfield.

Hunnam said: "I learned a lot, like a while ago, that it takes me a while, no matter what the character is, to just get out of it and get back into my normal life.

"I spent about a week in Chicago after we finished the shoot. And one of the really beautiful things I did that really was helpful was actually to drive up to Plainfield, which is where Ed Gein was born in Wisconsin, born and lived his whole life."

He added: "I went to the cemetery and went and visited his grave and sort of said goodbye to the character. I spent a long time there, talking to him as though you would somebody that you knew who had died. Like a regular person visiting a relative at a graveyard.

"I just said everything that I wanted to say and that I hoped that we told his story honestly and that I was going to move on without him as part of my life."

However, the move has sparked controversy among viewers, who have rushed to the comments to share their thoughts.

The new Monsters series dramatises the crimes of Gein (Bettmann / Contributor)

One user wrote under the TikTok: "Very disturbing choice of words."

A second suggested: "Maybe visit the grave of his victims?"

While a third agreed: "This guy was a monster I'm sorry but this just doesn't sit right with me."

Another user commented: "I don't know if 'beautiful' is the right word to describe anything about Ed Gein."

And someone else added: "I’m sorry but this is bizarre behaviour to me. I get that some characters can stay with actors after the fact, but visiting a serial killer’s grave is just not something I find appropriate."

Hunnam's way of letting go of the serial killer has left people divided (Santiago Felipe/Getty Images)

However, others understood the actor's reasoning and made sure to defend him.

One person wrote: "Evan Peters was completely ruined after Dahmer, so I totally get his reasoning behind this. Working on these films for months messes with the mental and makes these poor actors go insane. Glad he handled it healthy."

Another noted: "That's a really great idea to leave the character behind. Like closure."

And a third agreed: "It’s like a ritual. Like how you are supposed to say goodbye to an ouija board to not let the spirit attach. I guess in a sense he’s respecting the spirits and is no longer attached to this story."

Meanwhile, a fourth reasoned: "I don't think he meant any disrespect in my opinion about saying goodbye to Ed Gein. I could be wrong. He put himself into that character and it was probably traumatic."

Tyla has contacted a representative for Hunnam for comment.