Paapa Essiedu responds to casting backlash over his role as Snape in HBO’s Harry Potter

The first trailer for HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter reboot has been overshadowed by a wave of racist abuse aimed at Paapa Essiedu, who has been cast as Severus Snape.

Essiedu, who is the first black actor to take on the iconic role, has revealed he’s been sent race-fuelled death threats since his casting was announced in December 2024. The situation escalated further after the teaser dropped, with HBO reportedly stepping up on-set security to protect those involved in the production.

HBO

Speaking about the abuse, Essiedu shared the reality of what he’s been facing online with The Times: “I’ve been told, ‘Quit or I’ll murder you’… 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’… while I’m pretty sure I’m not going to be murdered… That could age badly!”

He acknowledged the emotional toll it has taken, adding: “Nobody should have to encounter this for doing their job… I’m playing a wizard in Harry Potter. And I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t affect me emotionally.”

Despite this, Essiedu said the experience has only strengthened his resolve to make the role his own. Reflecting on representation, he explained: “And makes me more passionate about making this character my own… 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 die.”

He also described the level of online abuse as “endemic”, noting that choosing not to engage with it doesn’t make it disappear. Essiedu confirmed he hasn’t reported the threats: “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.”

HBO

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Away from the reboot controversy, Essiedu has also faced backlash for publicly supporting the transgender community, particularly in contrast to the views of Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.

Last year, he signed an open letter criticising a UK Supreme Court ruling which stated that references to “sex” and “woman” in the Equality Act relate specifically to biological sex. The letter, which was also signed by Emma Watson, said: “We believe the ruling undermines the lived reality and threatens the safety of trans, non-binary and intersex people living in the UK.”

Rowling later addressed the situation on X, writing: “I don’t have the power to sack an actor from the series and I wouldn’t exercise it if I did. I don’t believe in taking away people’s jobs or livelihoods because they hold legally protected beliefs that differ from mine.”

Speaking to The Times about his decision to sign the letter, Essiedu stood firm: “My points of view are mine and will continue to be so.

“I signed that letter because I believe that artists in the trans community have a right to be treated with dignity and should be able to work without being intimidated.

“I have been really supported by the production team, and I’d sign that letter again today.”

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Featured image credit: HBO