The world was introduced to Noah Schnapp in the hit Netflix series Stranger Things. He played Will Byers, a main character on the show whose disappearance kicks off the events shown.
Stranger Things is one of Netflix’s most popular shows, cementing the streaming service as the prime destination for binge-worthy content.
The series made its cast, consisting primarily of child actors and teenagers, household names, and some of the most popular Netflix stars.
Will is found after his disappearance and is brought back home, where his life in Hawkins resumes in a relatively normal manner. As the story progresses through the seasons, it becomes clear that Will may have romantic feelings for his best friend, Mike.
Stranger Things is set in the 1980s, a time when coming out wasn’t conducive for characters, let alone in a small town like Hawkins. Will struggles with understanding his feelings until he comes out to his brother in Season 4.
In the real world, Schnapp was also beginning to understand his sexuality, and it didn’t help that he had millions of eyes on him all the time.
His social media presence invited a lot of scrutiny, including questions about his sexuality.
In 2023, the actor took control of his own story and came out in one of the most Noah Schnapp ways.
He posted a TikTok video lip-syncing to a popular TikTok audio at the time. “When I finally told my friends and family I was gay after being scared in the closet for 18 years and all they said was ‘we knew,’” a paragraph in the video read.
“I guess I’m more similar to Will than I thought,” he captioned the post, referencing the parallel journey undergone by his character.
‘Stranger Things’ Accelerated Noah Schnapp’s Journey
Photo: Courtesy of NetflixThat tension between fiction and reality didn’t stay on screen. As Will Byers quietly wrestled with his identity in Hawkins, Schnapp was navigating a parallel storm — one shaped not by Demogorgons, but by millions of eyes watching his every move.
It’s a unique experience to have your every move when you’re barely a teenager dissected by millions of people on the internet. From followers to press members, Schnapp was forced to grow up faster than most kids his age.
Social media users would speculate about his sexuality, and as Schnapp admitted in an interview with Time while promoting the show’s final season in 2025, journalists would ask the question.
“When I was younger, I was obviously very scared of talking about it,” the actor said. “They would pry and ask me, ‘Is he gay? Are you gay?’ I was 12, 13. I didn’t know what to say.”
For years, fans speculated. The show hinted. The press circled. But when Schnapp finally spoke, it wasn’t for headlines — it was for himself. And maybe, just maybe, for every kid who saw Will and wondered if anyone else knew.
You must be logged in to post a comment.