At just 15 years old with an acting career that’s already on the rise, Noah Schnapp does not want to get canceled over something as icky as this!
The Stranger Things star is speaking out after an old video of him singing along to Chris Brown and Lil Dicky‘s single Freaky Friday, in which he appeared to say the N-word, resurfaced on Tuesday. Of course, fans found the clip upsetting because spoiler alert: Noah is white and had no business using the racial slur, even as part of a song!
Related: Natalia Doyer Says The Media Is Oversexualizing Stranger Things’ Young Stars
Angry fans who joined the #NoahSchnappIsOverParty hashtag on Twitter slammed the actor, with many arguing the move was particularly insensitive because he’s close friends with co-star Caleb McLoughlin who is Black. Quick PSA: it’s still not an acceptable word to say either way! No get-out-of-racism-free cards over here, people.
Schnapp took to his Instagram Story to address the controversy, claiming he said “neighbor” instead of the N-word in the now-viral clip:
“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. 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.”
He continued, asking followers for forgiveness over what he claims to be a misunderstanding:
“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 [sic] kept my mouth shut. I understand why it is found offensive and I am so sorry.”
In the 2019 clip, Schnapp is seen singing along to Brown’s verse which uses the N-word several times throughout. Actually, it’s repeated like a dozen times in a row, so it would be hard to misinterpret that for the word “neighbor,” right? Before you check it out, read the original lyrics here:
“Wait, can I really say the n-word? What up, my n***a, what up, my n***a? Bigs up, my n***a, we up, my n***a. You p***y ass, n****s, man, f**k y’all n****s. ‘Cause I’m that n***a, n***a, n***a.”
Now, watch the controversial piece of evidence a fan reposted (below) and hear it for yourself:
Should of left his ass in the upside down world #noahschnappisoverpartypic.twitter.com/ruMVZIZHrt
— GOLDEN CHILD (@G0DJISOO) August 26, 2020
We’ll be honest, it’s a little hard to tell here! Regardless, Noah did not want anyone getting the wrong impression (too late there, buddy!) and apologized for using the replacement word. It’s 2020 and you’d think celebs would know better by now… hasn’t the teen learned from countless others who’ve made this icky mistake before him? Sigh.
Perezcious readers, do U think this apology will make a difference among diehard Stranger Things fans? Or will the young star’s career bounce back by the next news cycle like it never happened?
[Image via Apega/WENN]
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