Stranger Things' Caleb McLaughlin addresses the racism he's experienced within the fandom

27 September 2022, 11:35

Stranger Things Cast vs. 'The Most Impossible Stranger Things Quiz' | PopBuzz Meets

By Katie Louise Smith

"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’".

Stranger Things star Caleb McLaughlin has opened up about the racism he's experienced from the show's fandom since the series started back in 2016.

The actor, who plays Lucas Sinclair, on the Netflix show spoke to an audience of fans at Heroes Comic Con in Belgium on Sunday (Sept 25). During a Q&A session, Caleb addressed how he has been treated by fans – particularly in the early seasons of the show – because of the colour of his skin.

In a video from the convention that's since gone viral on social media, Caleb also shared his experiences at other conventions in the past, and explained how his meet-and-greet line was usually shorter than his co-stars' lines.

READ MORE: Stranger Things' Caleb McLaughlin explains why he thinks Jason is "a better guy" than Billy

"It affected me when I was a kid," Caleb says. "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'. Even now, people don’t follow me or support me because I’m Black, you know."

He continued: "Sometimes overseas like you’ll feel the racism, you feel the bigotry...Sometimes it’s hard to talk about that and for people to understand. But, when I was younger it definitely affected me a lot."

"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’," Caleb added. "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’."

"That’s crazy, because I was born with this beautiful chocolate skin, I’m not loved. But, that’s why with my platform I want to spread positivity and love because I don’t give hate back to people who gave hate to me."

At the end of his answer, Caleb was met with applause and cheers from the audience. And after the video went viral on social media, fans also flocked to share their thoughts and support with the actor.

Read more about Stranger Things 5 here:

• Stranger Things season 5: Release date, spoilers, cast, news and trailers
• Stranger Things creators reveal their plans for season 5 made Netflix execs cry
• Stranger Things 5 theory explains how 008 will help Eleven defeat Vecna
• Stranger Things 5 theory suggests how Eddie could return as Kas and kill Vecna
• Does Will Byers come out as gay in Stranger Things 4? Here's what he says to Mike in Volume 2

WATCH: Drag Race UK’s Just May claps back at Danny Beard's shady confessional remarks

Drag Race UK’s Just May Claps Back At Danny Beard's Shady Remarks | Drag Race Yearbook