Stranger Things creators hit back at backlash over Will’s coming-out scene

The creators of Stranger Things have responded to online backlash and review-bombing over Will Byers’ coming-out scene, saying the moment was essential to the show’s ending and “key” to defeating Vecna.

Brothers Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer addressed the controversy after the release of the fifth and final season, admitting they were surprised by the reaction but standing firmly by the creative decision.

The final season of Stranger Things was released in three parts on Netflix, with the finale debuting on New Year’s Eve. The show returned to Hawkins as the group faced its final battle with Vecna following the Upside Down’s breach into the town.

While the first volume delivered Netflix’s biggest-ever premiere week for an English-language series, audience scores later dropped sharply. On Rotten Tomatoes, the season’s audience rating fell to 56 per cent, the lowest in the show’s history.

Episode seven, titled “Chapter Seven: The Bridge”, has become the lowest-rated episode of the entire series. The episode centres on Will Byers, played by Noah Schnapp, coming out as gay to those closest to him, prompting criticism from some viewers who accused the show of becoming “woke”.

In an interview with Variety, Ross Duffer said the scene had been planned for years and was never intended as a last-minute statement. “The coming-out scene is something we’ve been building to for nine years,” he said, describing it as both emotionally and narratively necessary.

The scene reveals that Vecna has been using Will’s fear of revealing his sexuality to isolate and manipulate him. By naming that fear and sharing it openly, Will removes the villain’s psychological hold.

Matt Duffer described the moment as “the final step in Will’s journey”, adding that it represents “the key to defeating Vecna”. He explained that the season’s core theme was self-acceptance, and that confronting internal fears was as important as fighting the supernatural threat.

The brothers also said their priority was ensuring Schnapp was comfortable with the storyline. Schnapp publicly came out as gay in 2023, and they said they would not have included the scene if he had not felt supported.

Despite the backlash, Ross Duffer said they were proud of the episode and Schnapp’s “very brave and vulnerable performance”, adding that they did not anticipate the scale of the reaction.

The final season has divided fans, with praise for its emotional weight alongside criticism over unresolved storylines. All episodes of Stranger Things are now streaming on Netflix.

Aasiya Niaz