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In an interview with Variety magazine on Thursday, actor Noah Schnapp confirmed that his Stranger Things character Will Byers is gay.

There has been much speculation about Will Byers鈥� sexuality since season 1 of the American science-fiction horror drama television series was brought to screens in 2016. The actor had previously left his character鈥檚 sexual orientation up for interpretation, amidst fan questions and rumours of Byers being gay.

In a past interview, Schnapp described public opinion as wanting to label his character鈥檚 sexuality and that there wasn鈥檛 a need to rush to such conclusions. 鈥淚 find that people do reach to put a label on him and just want to know, so badly, like, 鈥極h, and this is it.鈥� He鈥檚 just confused and growing up and that鈥檚 what it is to be a kid,鈥� Schnapp explained.聽

Following the release of season 4 volume 2, Schnapp confirmed Will鈥檚 sexuality, explaining that he wanted to prevent any spoilers from coming out until things became clearer in the newer episodes.聽

‘They Made it a Very Real, Obvious Thing’

Schnapp told Variety, 鈥淣ow that he鈥檚 gotten older, they made it a very real, obvious thing. Now it鈥檚 100 percent clear that he is gay and he does love Mike,鈥� Prior to this, the actor described the personal narrative as one that was built on a 鈥渟low arc.鈥� He praised the way that the storyline was curated, adding that it was done 鈥渟o beautifully, because it鈥檚 so easy to make a character just like all of a sudden be gay.鈥�

The actor recalled two points within the most recent season that were vital in understanding Will’s state of mind which called for personal growth. One of these scenes was Will and Mike鈥檚 van ride which solidified the 鈥渢ruth鈥� of 鈥渓oving his best friend鈥� while not knowing how to tell him (Mike).聽

The other scene involved Will鈥檚 conversation with his brother Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) during the season finale. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also very important for people to see that Will is not alone 鈥� because all we ever see of him is struggling and feeling depressed and that he can鈥檛 be himself,鈥� Schnapp said. 鈥淛onathan is talking to him in code 鈥� it鈥檚 just the perfect way to tell someone like Will that he cares about him and he accepts him no matter what.鈥�

Schnapp spoke about fan interactions and the support that he received from playing a character like Will. 鈥淚 was just in Paris and this, like, 40-year-old man came up to me and he was like, 鈥淲ow, this Will character made me feel so good. And I related to it so much. That is exactly who I was when I was a kid,鈥� he said.聽

Journey of Self-Discovery

Schnapp described the journey of self-discovery in playing a character who was struggling with figuring out his identity, and how this was paralleled with his own life. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 all just part of the challenge of acting,鈥� he said. 鈥淟ike, yes, it has been a challenge, but I think it鈥檚 just been fun to be able to step into his shoes. Because I really have to take into account, like, this isn鈥檛 just a single layer thing of he鈥檚 struggling with coming out.鈥�

Fans have taken this news with major excitement, with people posting to social media their glee at the Stranger Things character acknowledged as canonically gay.聽

One Twitter user said, 鈥�Noah schnapp confirming will byers is gay and in love with mike on a random thursday night is the best thing ever.鈥澛�

noah schnapp confirming will byers is gay and in love with mike on a random thursday night is the best thing ever

— 鉁� cam 鉁� (@windermerehaze)