Flonique Guimary

Duffer Brothers address criticisms over Will Byers’s coming-out scene in 'Stranger Things' Season 5

Article (news)

Alyana De Guzman

Push Team

<div><em>Content Warning: This article may contain spoilers.  </em></div><p><em>Stranger Things</em> creators Matt and Ross Duffer, popularly known as the Duffer Brothers, recently opened up about the backlash the series received after Will Byers, portrayed by Noah Schnapp, came out as gay in the seventh episode of the show’s final season. </p><p>In the seventh episode titled “The Bridge,” Will comes out to his family and friends just before they make their final stand against the antagonist Vecna, played by Jamie Campbell Bower. While the moment marked a significant turning point for the character, the creators admitted they were surprised by the negative response it sparked online. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/11/8/netflix-announces-stranger-things-tales-from-85-animated-series-coming-in-2026-1047" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: Netflix announces ‘Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85’ animated series coming in 2026</strong></a></div><p><br/>In an interview with <em>Variety</em> on January 1, Matt was asked whether they anticipated the backlash. “No is the honest truth,” he said. “Because it is, as Ross said, something we’ve been building for a really long time. I always say, Ross and I are many things, but subtle is not one of those things!” </p><p>The Duffer Brothers emphasized that the scene carried both narrative and emotional weight. Ross reiterated that it was something they had “been building to for nine years,” adding, “It was a really important scene for us, and a really important scene for Noah—not just from a thematic point of view, but also a narrative point of view.” </p><p>According to Matt, Will’s journey was central to the group’s ability to defeat Vecna. “The final step in Will’s journey, and Will is, in so many ways, the key to defeating Vecna,” he explained, noting that the first part of the season focused heavily on self-acceptance. “It’s really about self-acceptance, right? I mean, that’s sort of step one.” </p><div><br/></div><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DS3EqQHEtOx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DS3EqQHEtOx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:100px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:60px"><br/></div></div></div><div style="padding:19% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:block;height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"><br/></div><div style="padding-top:8px"><div style="color:#3897f0;line-height:18px">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding:12.5% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;margin-bottom:14px;align-items:center"><div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(0px) translateY(7px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;height:12.5px;transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"><div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"><br/></div></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"><br/></div></div></a><div style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DS3EqQHEtOx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Stranger Things Netflix (@strangerthingstv)</a></div></div></blockquote><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>The next step, Matt said, was Will choosing to come out. “He knows that he needs to do that, and that’s the final step for him. And he finds the courage to be able to do it. And it’s really the ultimate f*** you to Vecna. That was the intention.” </p><p>Despite the criticism, Ross said the creators stand firmly by the episode. “We’re proud of the episode, and we’re proud of the scene, and proud of Noah, who gave a really brave, very vulnerable performance.” </p><p>The brothers also revealed that the scene took longer to write than any other in the series, as they were mindful of how personal the storyline was for Noah, who publicly came out as gay in 2023. “Our goal was to make sure that he was comfortable and happy with the scene,” Matt said.  </p><p>“And when he was, we felt good about it. I’ve been texting with him a lot, but texting with him specifically after that scene and after that episode aired. And he’s in a really good place. He’s very proud of the scene, and we’re proud of the scene,” he assured. </p><p>In a separate interview with PEOPLE on December 25, Noah admitted he initially felt nervous when he learned about Will’s storyline. “I was nervous. I was like, ‘How are they going to write that?’ But I read it, and I just cried reading it, and I was like, ‘This is perfect. They did it.’ There’s no notes.” </p><p>He also shared that the Duffer Brothers sought guidance to ensure authenticity. “They told me they went to some queer family and friends to help understand how to do it right”.  </p><div><br/></div><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DS0rhwQDq40/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DS0rhwQDq40/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:100px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:60px"><br/></div></div></div><div style="padding:19% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:block;height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"><br/></div><div style="padding-top:8px"><div style="color:#3897f0;line-height:18px">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding:12.5% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;margin-bottom:14px;align-items:center"><div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(0px) translateY(7px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;height:12.5px;transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"><div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"><br/></div></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"><br/></div></div></a><div style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DS0rhwQDq40/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Stranger Things Netflix (@strangerthingstv)</a></div></div></blockquote><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>One concern for Noah was how Will’s loved ones would react after he came out. “I would say I was a little nervous about everyone individually standing up, and I was like, ‘Is that going to be weird?’” he recalled. “But then, in the moment, everything just [felt] so real and it felt so just natural, and it worked.” </p><p>Reflecting on Will’s arc, Noah described it as a layered and realistic journey. “I think it’s so beautifully done, and I think it was so real,” he said. “The first volume for him is kind of accepting his own inner—just saying it to himself, that this is real and this is who I am—and finally, when he does say that and acknowledge that, he can harness those powers.” </p><p>He added that true acceptance goes beyond self-realization. “But saying it to yourself isn’t telling everyone and living your full truth. So then you see, in the second volume, him [mustering] up the courage to live completely truthfully. And finally, by the end of episode 7, he has embraced that and now he’s finally ready to entirely defeat the villain.” </p><p>For Noah, the storyline closely mirrored real life. “That journey is just like how real life works,” he said. “You don’t just all of a sudden accept yourself and then tell everyone. It’s a process of internal acceptance and then outward. It’s just so beautifully written, and it was really special to get to play that.” </p><p>The actor also reflected on how audience support influenced him personally. “I always kind of mirrored the journey a little bit with Will and my personal identity.”</p><p>“Seeing how audiences reacted to him over the years and embraced him—especially in season 4, when it was really obvious [that Will was gay], and people still loved him so much. I was like, ‘Oh, if they love him that much, what am I hiding over here?’” he recalled. </p><div><br/></div><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DTD1QDVkgCJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DTD1QDVkgCJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:100px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:60px"><br/></div></div></div><div style="padding:19% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:block;height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"><br/></div><div style="padding-top:8px"><div style="color:#3897f0;line-height:18px">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding:12.5% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;margin-bottom:14px;align-items:center"><div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(0px) translateY(7px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;height:12.5px;transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"><div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"><br/></div></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"><br/></div></div></a><div style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DTD1QDVkgCJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Stranger Things Netflix (@strangerthingstv)</a></div></div></blockquote><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>The actor added that the impact of the scene goes beyond himself. Fans’ support, he said, has “definitely made an impact,” noting, “I can’t even imagine how much of an impact [this scene] could make on other young kids out there struggling with [coming out], and that’s what just means so much to me.” </p><p>The episode has since become the lowest rated in the series’ history on IMDb, earning a 5.6 out of 10. Meanwhile, harsh reviews of the second volume pulled the season’s Rotten Tomatoes score down to 83% critic score and a 56% audience score after the finale dropped on December 31, making it the lowest-rated season of the series.  </p><p>Meanwhile, following its final bow, the Duffer Brothers is set to release <em>Stranger Things: Tales From &#x27;85,</em> a spin-off to the award-winning series this year.  </p><p>The animated series will take viewers back to the winter of 1985 in Hawkins, Indiana, where the cast uncovers a paranormal mystery and fights monsters living in the town. Showrunner and executive producer of the animated version, Eric Robles, said that the series will be filling some gaps between the storytelling of season 2 and season 3 of the live action.</p>

<p>'Stranger Things' creators Matt and Ross Duffer address the criticism surrounding Will Byers’s coming out as gay in the 7th episode of the show’s season 5.</p>

'Stranger Things' creators Matt and Ross Duffer address the criticism surrounding Will Byers’s coming out as gay in the 7th episode of the show’s season 5.