Caleb McLaughlin, who plays Lucas Sinclair in Stranger Things, has opened up about confronting racism as a young actor in the hit Netflix sci-fi series.
The actor said in The Comic Con heroes Belgium Sunday conference. “My first Comic-Con, some people didn’t stand in line because I was black. Some people said to me, ‘Oh, I didn’t want to be on your side because you were mean to Eleven’ [Millie Bobby Brown]. ”
McLaughlin continued, “So far, some people don’t follow me or don’t support me because I’m black. Sometimes you feel racism on the outside, you feel bigoted. Sometimes it’s hard to talk about and understand people, but when I was younger, it affected me.” A lot for sure.”
Starting with the series when he was 14, McLaughlin said his young age would wonder, “Why am I the least favourite? The least amount of followers? I’m on the same show as everyone from season one.”
He added, “My parents had to say, ‘It’s really sad, but that’s because you’re the black kid on the show…Because I was born with this beautiful chocolate skin, I’m not likable.'”But that’s why through my platform I want to spread positivity and love because I don’t I hate people who hate me.”
Forcing black actors to deal with racism from toxic fans is unfortunately not a new phenomenon. This summer alone, Halle Bailey, who plays Ariel in the upcoming adaptation of Little Mermaid, and Steve Toussaint, who plays Lord Corliss in “House of the Dragon,” have come under racist criticism from online trolls. Earlier this month, the “Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power” cast condemned the “relentless racism, threats, harassment, and abuse” targeting POC cast members. Back in May, Star Wars issued a similar statement after Moses Ingram revealed on social media that she had been inundated with direct messages dubbed the N-word and “employing diversity.”
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