Stranger Things’ actor Noah Schnapp apologized for singing the N-word in a video that resurfaced on social media. In the video, the Will Byers actor is shown in the back of a car singing along to Chris Brown and Lil Dicky's song "Freaky Friday" with his friends. The song uses the racial slur several times, but the specific verse Schnapp was recorded singing starts off saying, "Wait, can I really say the N-word?" before repeating the slur multiple times.
After backlash from the video, 15-year-old Schnapp posted a letter on his Instagram Story denying the accusations and explaining that he was singing the word "neighbor" in place of the racial slur. He continued to say he would never use the N-word but acknowledged the video was still offensive.
"Hi guys. Recently a video from last summer has gotten out of me dancing and singing a song while singing the word 'neighbor' over the N-word," Schnapp wrote. "I would truly never say the N-word and I'm not the type of person. I genuinely have never used that word in my life. Using the word 'neighbor' in that song was just something my camp friends and I did. I hope you all understand I could never even think about doing that. My friends also would never post a video, or support me, if I was saying that slur without hesitation. I apologize for using a replacement word. It is not my place to use one and I should of kept my mouth shut. I understand why it is found offensive and I am so sorry."
Schnapp is no stranger to the backlash of social media. Just last week the actor confirmed his Twitter account had been hacked after a series of inappropriate sexual messages and racial slurs were posted. Last month, Schnapp also took to social media to publicly apologize and address another accusation that he was friends with the owner of a controversial Instagram account that shamed his Stranger Things co-star, Millie Bobby Brown.
Stranger Things Season 4 began filming in February 2020 when the COVID pandemic halted production. The Duffer Brothers recently revealed Season 4 will not be the end and that the pandemic has given them time to look ahead and plan the future of the show.
Created by the Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things stars Winona Ryder, Millie Bobbie Brown, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Priah Ferguson, Cary Elwes, Jake Busey and Maya Thurman-Hawke. The first three seasons are currently available on Netflix.
(Via Bustle)