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Paapa Essiedu faces racial abuse after being cast in HBO’s

Sandy Verma | March 24, 2026 2:24 AM CST

Summary

British actor Paapa Essiedu has spoken out about facing severe racial abuse after being cast as Severus Snape in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series.
In an interview, Essiedu revealed the extent of the abuse he has endured, including death threats.
“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,’” he said, adding that he has been told to “quit or I’ll murder you.”
The I May Destroy You star stressed that no one should face such treatment simply for doing their job.
“Nobody should have to encounter this for doing their job,” he said, noting that many people already “put their lives on the line in their work.”
Essiedu acknowledged the emotional toll of the backlash but said it has strengthened his resolve.
“I’m playing a wizard in Harry Potter.
It is worth noting that Essiedu will take over the iconic role from the late Alan Rickman, who famously portrayed Snape in the original Harry Potter film series.

AI Generated Summary

British actor Paapa Essiedu has spoken out about facing severe racial abuse after being cast as Severus Snape in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series.

The 35-year-old actor is currently in Watford filming the highly anticipated HBO production, which he joined in April 2025.

Since the casting announcement, Essiedu has faced criticism from some fans, largely because the character of Snape was portrayed as white in the original films.

In an interview, Essiedu revealed the extent of the abuse he has endured, including death threats.

“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,’” he said, adding that he has been told to “quit or I’ll murder you.”

The I May Destroy You star stressed that no one should face such treatment simply for doing their job.

“Nobody should have to encounter this for doing their job,” he said, noting that many people already “put their lives on the line in their work.”

Essiedu acknowledged the emotional toll of the backlash but said it has strengthened his resolve.

“I’m playing a wizard in Harry Potter. And I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t affect me emotionally. But the abuse fuels me,” he shared. He added that the experience has made him even more determined to bring his own interpretation to the character.

“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,” Essiedu explained.

It is worth noting that Essiedu will take over the iconic role from the late Alan Rickman, who famously portrayed Snape in the original Harry Potter film series. The new television adaptation is expected to premiere in 2027 on Max.

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