Noah Schnapp Gets Candid About Will Byers' 'Stranger Things' Coming Out Scene
- - Noah Schnapp Gets Candid About Will Byers' 'Stranger Things' Coming Out Scene
Liz DeclanDecember 30, 2025 at 3:17 AM
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Photo by Variety on Getty Images
Stranger Thingsactor Noah Schnapp reflected on his experience of Will Byers' Season 5 Episode 7 coming out scene—before, during and after filming—and got candid about what that moment meant to him personally.
SPOILER—This post includes spoilers from Stranger Things Season 5Episode 7.
There's just one episode of Stranger Things left, but ahead of the finale, audiences have already seen some massive character moments in Season 5. Among those was Will's emotional coming out scene in the penultimate episode, during which he tells a group of friends and family that he doesn't like girls.
Schnapp has previously spoken about his initial worries about seeing the script and potentially needing to workshop it, as well as how long and emotionally demanding the 12-hour day of filming was. Now, in a post shared to the official Stranger Things TikTok account, Schnapp has revealed a bit more about his reaction to the script, the day of filming and what he sees as the impact of this scene.
Schnapp explained that he'd cried to himself the first time he read the script, adding, "If I saw this when I was 12 or 13, I think it could have given me the courage to come out at that age."
Schnapp specifically called out how supportive Stranger Things co-star Maya Hawke was on set the day Will's coming out scene was filmed, replicating their on-screen dynamic. Hawke plays Robin, another LGBTQ+ character on the show, who acts as a mentor to Will, particularly in terms of helping him accept himself.
Alongside a behind-the-scenes clip showing Hawke telling Schnapp she loves him, Schnapp shares, "Maya was so incredible with me that day and so loving and nurturing and always watching out for me. I remember after the scene ended...She was the first person I hugged, and I just like sobbed into her arms."
The TikTok also highlights how positive and supportive the environment was that day on set in general, ending with Schnapp saying, "Yay, I'm done," and a roomful of cast and crew members clapping.
Beyond just the meaning for Will as a character, Schnapp shared that filming this scene had a real-life impact on his sense of comfort and belonging among the cast. "Now I do feel honestly more comfortable in my identity around them because I was able to sit them down and have that conversation," Schnapp said.
Although the feelings on set were of support, love and acceptance, this scene has been met with backlash from fans and review bombing for Season 5 Episode 7. These responses are occurring simultaneously with what fans are calling "Cutgate," referring to the ongoing though unsubstantiated rumors that key scenes were cut from Season 5 Volume 2.
This story was originally published by Parade on Dec 30, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
