Harry Potter Show Star Paapa Essiedu Faced Death Threats Over Casting
Deadline • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Paapa Essiedu, cast as Severus Snape in the upcoming Harry Potter series adaptation, has received racist death threats since his casting, including messages telling him to quit or face murder.
- Despite the abuse, Essiedu finds motivation in the hateful comments, aiming to represent diversity and inspire children like his younger self who found escapism in the Harry Potter books.
- Essiedu acknowledges the emotional impact of the threats but chooses not to report them, believing legal action against young offenders would not bring him comfort.
- The actor supports trans rights and has publicly opposed J.K. Rowling’s anti-trans views, signing a petition advocating for dignity and protection for trans artists in the UK entertainment industry.
- The Harry Potter series, with Ess
