Paapa Essiedu received death threats over Harry Potter role
Paapa Essiedu has received death threats from people who objected to a black actor being cast as Professor Severus Snape in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series.
Paapa Essiedu has received death threats after being cast as Professor Severus Snape in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series.
The I May Destroy You actor has spoken out about the online "abuse" he has received since his role in the HBO adaptation of J.K. Rowling's beloved book series was announced because people have objected to a black character playing the wizard.
He told The Times newspaper: "I've been told, 'Quit, or I'll murder you'...
“It really matters. The reality is that if I look at Instagram I will see somebody saying, ‘I’m going to come to your house and kill you.’ So while I’m pretty sure I’m not going to be murdered… That could age badly!
"But, yes, while I hope I’ll be OK, nobody should have to encounter this for doing their job. Many people put their lives on the line in their work. I’m playing a wizard in Harry Potter. And I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t affect me emotionally.”
The 34-year-old actor insisted simply staying offine isn't a solution.
He said: “But even if you successfully ignore it, it doesn’t mean it’s not happening. The issue remains endemic and, anyway, people see stuff and message to ask if I’m OK.”
And Paapa hasn't reported the threats because he doesn't think it would make a difference to his own feelings.
He said: “No. I don’t think some 17-year-old boy being put in jail for two weeks for threatening to murder me would actually make me feel any better.”
Instead, the abuse has only made Paapa more passionate about starring in the Harry Potter series.
He said: "The abuse fuels me. And makes me more passionate about making this character my own, because I think of how I felt as a kid.
"I would imagine myself at Hogwarts on broomsticks, and the idea that a kid like me can see themselves represented in that world? That’s motivation to not be intimidated by someone saying they’d rather I died instead of doing work I’m going to be really proud of...
“I was an avid reader as a kid. My mum couldn’t afford a babysitter in the holidays, so she would take me to the library. I loved Harry Potter. I never saw the films but the books were escapism when other things were less easy for me.”
The Babies actor is aware of just how much of his life Harry Potter will consume.
He smiled: “Yes, this is a big commitment. I’ll be 45 by the time I finish and I know my life is going to change in a big way, but I have to just surrender to that. I could have children by the end of this.”
