“Stranger Things” fans weren’t here for the Caleb McLaughlin hate. (Jenny Anderson/WireImage)
This post contains spoilers about Netflix’s “Stanger Things.”
It seems as if “Stranger Things” fans have had a hard time separating actor Caleb McLaughlin from his character Lucas Sinclair. And as a result, fans are lending their support to the young actor.
The star of the highly-buzzed about Netflix series spoke about his belief that people would hate him based on his character’s hesitation to welcome a female newcomer named Eleven during season one. He hoped people would be able to separate fiction from real life, and not despise him.
But he discovered that they, in fact, did.
One fan tweeted a video in October explaining how Laughlin’s realization broke their heart. The post only recently gained traction on Monday, Nov. 13.
https://twitter.com/bloodysinclair/status/916811256471916545
“I felt like people would understand because who would invite this random person?” McLaughlin says in a promotional interview. “For the people that weren’t stuck in fantasy land — because a lot of people were stuck in fantasy land, in my opinion. We find this random girl. Her nose is bleeding, she has blood on her shirt, she closes doors with her mind…would you trust someone that doesn’t really give up information?”
Cut to an interview with the Build Series where the 16-year-old discusses “Stranger Things 2,” and McLaughlin said people would approach him to share their hatred for him.
“I’m like, first of all, I’m an actor,” he says. “Like, can you just say hi to me? I’m Caleb McLaughlin, not Lucas Sinclair.”
On Monday, fans of the series, which follows a group of boys faced with investigating the creepy disappearance of their friend, were weighing in on the matter.
Related: News About Netflix Shows
After 12 Years with ABC, Shonda Rhimes Is Heading to Netflix
Folks Irate About ‘Dear White People’ Series, Ditch Netflix Subscriptions Over ‘Reverse Racism’
Hit Series ‘Luke Cage’ Nabs Second Season On Netflix as Fans Rejoice
A couple passionately agreed with Lucas for being guarded around Eleven, who escaped from Hawkins Lab where she was being poked and prodded.
Because he wouldn’t let us get stuck in fantasy land- right? Easily my favourite character because I’m always the one like: naw dawg and somehow no one questions the things he questioned. It helped the storyline and made it more believable
— Vanta Black (@thatgirlysk) November 14, 2017
Literally jumping up and down on the couch like: yo why is nobody listening to Lucas? Yo they really going to invite this girl in? Yo WHY IS NOBODY LISTENING TO LUCAS?!
— Vanta Black (@thatgirlysk) November 14, 2017
Others found it disheartening that fans conflated McClaughlin with his character.
I really hate the fact that people actually took it as far as to mesh him and his character as the same person, then continued on saying that they hate him…to his face! Like he said, he’s an actor and is playing a roll. They aren’t the same person, people. So back off.
— ταεgεя ℓove💕 (@softaeboiv) November 13, 2017
This is so sad.. On one side he feels like he has to defend his character & what he did/said, at the same time he has to defend himself after getting hate for doing absolutely nothing wrong.
I’m not even in the fandom but I want to protect him from all those shitty people— Ari🍸 (@ArrojKordish) November 14, 2017
Meanwhile, some just wanted to fight the haters.
who don’t like Lucas ? Point em out. pic.twitter.com/4Yi6lvI67d
— ㅤ (@Uknomee) November 14, 2017
who here is coming after caleb i’m ready to fight pic.twitter.com/UZ8yapSfSh
— you can’t arrest me, i’m the cake boss (@gremlyngirl) November 14, 2017
WHO IS MESSING WITH THIS KING I JUST WANT TO TALK pic.twitter.com/WflZOFLujS
— BTSAMA’s(hook) (@alicemartin420) November 12, 2017
And many pointed to racism as the culprit.
he’s a black boy in a predominantly white town in the 80s who looking for his friend in an alien dimension & some random white girl with telekinesis, a shaved head, who barely talk & just overall weird start randomly hanging with them. NIGGA IMMA BE HESITANT TO TRUST HER TOO
— 🧜🏽♀️🌊 (@SadBlackGal) November 14, 2017
for those who are asking why there are people hating on lucas: pic.twitter.com/rfGPFnUntY
— sara (@aethenas) November 14, 2017
The fact that he even needed to state all this just shows you how antiblack people are in the fandom.
— A (@CocoaMochaCrml) November 14, 2017
Of course, there was at least one who disagreed with that idea.
First of all, it’s a fake story with ACTORS, no real person let some weird girl in their house. Also, anyone can relate to his character, including me. Y’all make EVERYTHING about race.
— Caleb 🌟 (@CloutWizardC) November 14, 2017
So far, McLaughlin nor his “Stranger Things” castmembers have responded to the uproar. It remains to be seen if he’ll continue to face the same negativity when the show returns for a third season.
