Paapa Essiedu Received Racist Death Threats After Harry Potter Casting

Paapa Essiedu is opening up about the racist abuse he has received since being cast in the upcoming TV adaptation of the Harry Potter books.

Last year, it was revealed that the I May Destroy You star would play Potions professor Severus Snape, a role previously brought to life on screen by the late Alan Rickman, in the forthcoming series.

During a new interview in The Times, Essiedu spoke candidly about the abuse he’s been subjected to following his casting, on the basis of his race.

He told the newspaper: “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’.”

“Many people put their lives on the line in their work,” he observed. “I’m playing a wizard in Harry Potter. And I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t affect me emotionally.”

Essiedu went on to say that this type of abuse “fuels” him in some ways, 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 died instead of doing work I’m going to be really proud of,” he insisted.

Since it was announced, the new adaptation of Harry Potter has been met with a notably mixed reaction, not just because of the enduring popularity of the films but also JK Rowling’s involvement in the show as an executive producer.

Rowling, of course, has become a divisive figure in recent years due to her commentary about issues relating to transgender people.

In the months after he was cast, Essiedu made headlines when he signed a petition calling for the protection of the rights of transgender people within the entertainment industry, prompting a response from Rowling herself.