Stranger Things star Caleb McLaughlin reflected on the racism he experienced during the first season of the Netflix hit back in 2016.
The actor, who plays Lucas Sinclair in the hit sci-fi horror show, recalled how he was previously treated by the hardcore fandom during the early season of the programme.
During a Q&A session Caleb, 20, explained that due to the colour of his skin, his meet-and-greet line was a lot shorter in comparison to his co-stars Millie Bobby Brown, (Eleven) and Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler).
‘It affected me when I was a kid,’ he said.
‘At my very first Comic Con, some people didn’t stand in my line because I was Black. Some people told me that, ‘oh I didn’t want to be in your line because you were mean to Eleven [Millie].’
The youngster even admitted that people still don’t support him as much now because he’s Black.
here’s caleb talking about how he had to deal with racism just because he was “the black kid who was mean to eleven in season 1” and felt like it was important to share his thoughts on that
#StrangerThings #TUDUM #CalebMcLaughlin @HComicConBE pic.twitter.com/JZoXS9aaBW — L ☾ met timothée (@spideychaIamet) September 25, 2022
He continued: ‘You’re like – this is a deep conversation right now – but you’re like, ‘why am I the least favourite? Why don’t I have followers?”
‘I’m on the same show as everybody from season one. But then my parents had to be like, “you know, it’s a sad truth, but it’s because you’re the Black child in the show.”‘
Caleb’s admission has gone viral on social media, and several fans sent him their love.
‘Hearing Caleb McLaughlin talk about how much racism and hatred he has got since he was a kid on stranger things from fans is really sad to hear,’ one person tweeted.
‘The fact he talks about how has always felt like the least popular cause of his skin colour is just awful.’
Another added: ‘Caleb Mclaughlin coming out and talking about the racism and complete bigotry within the Stranger Things fandom is so heartbreaking. But everything he said is nothing but factssss.’
The most recent finale of Netflix’s sci-fi hit saw Eleven Max (Sadie Sink) and the rest of the gang in their most precarious position yet, as villain Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) unleashed terror on their hometown of Hawkins.
Season 5 will close out the show, which first premiered in 2016 to critical acclaim, with countless viewers hoping with all their might to see fan-favourite Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn) return.
Stranger Things is available to stream on Netflix.
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