The new Severus Snape has spoken out about cyberbullying for the first time.
British actor of Ghanaian descent Paapa Essiedu, who was cast last April as Severus Snape in the Harry Potter series, has spoken openly about the wave of hate he received after his casting.
In an interview with E! News, the 35-year-old actor admitted that he faces a huge number of hateful comments daily. "The reality is, if I go on Instagram*, I'll see a message like, 'I'm going to come to your house and kill you.' I'm pretty sure that won't happen... although all these threats might not last long," Paapa shared, clarifying that many of the haters' messages are overtly racist.
The actor, however, stated that he has no intention of going to the police. "I don't think the news that some 17-year-old kid will be jailed for two weeks for threatening to kill me will make me feel any better," he said, adding that such a public reaction only strengthens him. "It makes me even more immersed in such an iconic role. It motivates me not to be intimidated by what someone says about a work I should be proud of," the actor said.
In the interview, Paapa also admitted that he "never saw the films" based on J.K. Rowling's books, which likely drew the ire of franchise fans once again.
In April 2025, HBO announced the casting of the series' key actors. Along with Paapa Essiedu, who was cast as Snape, other actors were also announced. The casting of a black actor as the Potions professor sparked heated debate among fans, many of whom believed, and continue to believe, that the character's appearance is inextricably linked to that of the late Alan Rickman, who played Snape in the films.
Essiedu himself was little known at the time of his casting—he trained as an actor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and his resume included only a few theater productions and minor roles. Filming for the series began in July 2025, and the premiere is expected in early 2027.
Photo: Still from the film "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"/still from the film "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban"/"Kinopoisk"pessiedu/Instagram**