What Noah Schnapp Wants Stranger Things Fans To Take From Will Byers’ Coming Out Scene

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It’s hard to believe, but the popular Netflix series Stranger Things has officially ended! Many fans were surprised, especially with the buzz around a rumored secret episode. Now that the finale has aired, everyone’s discussing the biggest moments from the last season. Before the final episode, Noah Schnapp shared his thoughts on Will Byers’ coming out scene in Episode 7 with TopMob.

Noah Schnapp’s Hopes For Will Byers’ Coming Out Plotline

The episode of “Stranger Things” titled “The Bridge” not only revealed the origins of the Upside Down, but also featured Will Byers coming out to his family and friends. After a more developed storyline in the first part of the season, Will shares he is gay and receives a warm, supportive reaction from everyone, helping to alleviate his anxieties about the future. Noah Schnapp, the actor who plays Will, shared his thoughts on this impactful scene.

I really hope this resonates with people and helps kids who are figuring out who they are to feel comfortable and accept themselves. And I hope it empowers anyone who struggles with self-doubt and fear to embrace their true selves and know that it’s okay to be who they are.

Fans of the show Stranger Things long speculated that the character Will might be gay. In 2023, Noah Schnapp, the actor who plays Will, publicly came out as gay himself on TikTok. The 21-year-old explained he hopes this will inspire other young people questioning their identity to accept themselves. He also pointed out that viewers don’t need to be LGBTQ+ to relate to the emotional challenges Will faces throughout the series.

When you see everyone hug Will and embrace him like that, it’s just so powerful.

Coming out stories are now fairly common on television, but this episode is set in 1987, a time when being LGBTQ+ carried much more social shame. At that time, queer individuals often experienced discrimination, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic had recently begun, adding to the challenges they faced.

Will Byers’ Ending Has Received A Mixed Reaction From Fans

It’s still too soon to fully understand the lasting effects of Will Byers coming out, but we can already discuss how fans have reacted to his storyline in the latest finale. The ending of Stranger Things has sparked a wide range of opinions, and Will Byers’ part of the story is no exception.

One common disappointment among fans was that Will and Mike (known as the ship name “Byler”) didn’t become romantic interests by the end of the show. Mike didn’t end up with either Will or Eleven after a lot of talk about the triangle over the years. On Schnapp’s Instagram post about the show being over, check out some of the fan comments:

  • “Noah, I’m so sorry for that queer representation they (not) delivered. Thank you for what you tried to do for Will 💛 The most favourite character, and your performance was exquisite! Wish you to have good, meaningful parts in series and movies and hope to see good written queer characters performed by you. You’re truly a gift 💛” – @fridayoclock
  • “Beautiful and sad and hopeful- perfect ending ❤️ thank you” – @miss.lostgirl_tattoos
  • “But what about BYLER 😭☹️” – @123456789ahalalshs
  • “this cannot be the ending 😭 i wanted byler so bad. queer people deserve to know they CAN get what they want and mike was so obviously closeted it hurts my soul.” – @kaliejcampbell
  • “Thank you for giving us Stranger Things, we will love you forever❣️” – @vanessasergeantt

Can you relate? It was really satisfying to see Will Byers finally find happiness, especially considering how often LGBTQ+ characters, particularly on sci-fi shows, have tragic endings. What were your thoughts on that?

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2026-01-09 05:09