in Celebrities, Entertainment, Music

‘Stranger Things’ Star Noah Schnapp Apologizes For Using ‘Replacement’ For N-Word In Resurfaced Video

Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images

15-year-old Stranger Things actor Noah Schnapp learned the power of his actions earlier this week after serious backlash online.

Last summer, the teen went to summer camp, and on the way there, Schnapp and his friends were singing songs from the radio. Caught on video, Schnapp and his friends were singing along with “Freaky Friday” by Lil Dicky, featuring Chris Brown.

The song contains multiple uses of the N-word. What has viewers concerned was that, instead of censoring the word out all-together, Schnapp instead used the word “neighbor” to continue singing along with the song.

You can see the recording here, originally posted on Instagram by one of Schnapp’s friends:

Some viewers felt the act was a little too natural, implying that Schnapp actually uses the word frequently.

Since the video surfaced, there have been calls to cancel Noah Schnapp, including a trending hashtag “NoahSchnappIsOverParty.”

With the severity of the backlash across social media channels, Schnapp finally spoke out about the video.

In an Instagram story, Schnapp apologized: 

“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.”

“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.”

@noahschnapp/Instagram

While some viewers are still concerned at Schnapp’s word choice and levity in the video, others see this as an overreaction, or simply didn’t hear any misuse of any words during the video. 

 

Whether or not Schnapp meant to imply the n-word is unclear, but he’ll hopefully be more thoughtful about his words and actions going forward.

McKenzie Lynn Tozan

Written by McKenzie Lynn Tozan

McKenzie Lynn Tozan lives in North Chicago, where she works as a poet, freelance writer, and editor. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from Western Michigan University, and her BA in English from Indiana University South Bend. Her poems have appeared in Rogue Agent, Whale Road Review, the James Franco Review, Thank You for Swallowing, and elsewhere; and her essays and book reviews have appeared with Memoir Mixtapes, The Rumpus, BookPage, and Motherly, among others. When she's not reading and writing, she's in her garden or spending time with her family. For more, visit www.mckenzielynntozan.com.