Stranger Things’ Noah Schnapp Apologizes for Using a ‘Replacement Word’ in Controversial Viral Video

Speaking his truth. Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp claims he would never use a racial slur and apologized for using a “replacement word” after a video of the 15-year-old singing Lil Dicky’s song “Freaky Friday” went viral.

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“Hi guys. 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,” he wrote on his Instagram Story shortly after #NoahSchnappIsOverParty started trending on Twitter on Tuesday, August 25. “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.”

He continued, “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 [have] kept my mouth shut. I understand why it is found offensive and I am so sorry.”

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In the 2019 clip, which was originally posted by one of Schnapp’s friends on Instagram, the teen can be seen singing and dancing to the 2018 hit. One of the many risqué verses of the song reads, “Wonder if I can say the N-word / Wait, can I really say the N-word? / What up, my n–ga? What up, my n–ga? / Big ups, my n–ga, we up, my n–ga / You p–sy ass n–ga, man, f–k y’all n–gas / ‘Cause I’m that n–ga, n–ga, n–ga, n–ga / I’m that n–ga!” After sparking controversy, the video has since been deleted.

This isn’t the first time Schnapp has been under fire for shocking remarks made on social media. After his followers noticed he was friends with someone who ran a controversial fan page on Instagram, which previously shamed costar Millie Bobby Brown, he took to Twitter to apologize.

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“Hey everyone, so I see a lot of people upset on the internet over some things. First, I want to apologize for hurting anyone at all. You all matter most to me,” he tweeted on July 16. “[I know] some of you guys feel like your feelings are being invalidated. Which I’m sorry for. I never meant to defend anybody’s actions.” The Instagram account has since been deactivated and the actor denied being a “bad friend” to his castmate.