Here are All the Scandals That Rocked ‘Stranger Things’ Stars Over the Last 9 Years

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After almost a decade of captivating audiences, the popular sci-fi series Stranger Things will conclude with its fifth and final season this month on Netflix.

Viewers have varying opinions about the new season. Some found it difficult to reconnect with the show after such a long break between seasons, while others were simply excited to see the story’s ending.

While the show delivered exciting stories on screen, a lot of the focus over the years has been on off-screen drama and issues with the actors. Recently, David Harbour, who plays Chief Jim Hopper, has been at the center of a lot of discussion due to a controversy.

Recent reports suggest David engaged in bullying and harassment towards his younger colleague, Millie Bobby Brown. The Daily Mail claims Millie, now 21, brought her concerns to Netflix, which then supposedly launched an internal review of the situation.

David had faced public scrutiny before due to his personal life. Previously, he was involved in a scandal surrounding his divorce from singer Lily Allen. Lily, now 40, discovered he’d been having an affair that lasted three years, leading to their divorce last December.

Lily has released a new album called West End Girl, her first in seven years. The album is said to be about the end of her relationship, with songs like “Tennis” and “Madeline” offering her side of the story.

In a recent interview with Esquire Spain, David discussed his life, acknowledging his past errors and how he’s grown as a person. He explained that it’s important to embrace life’s entire journey, including the difficult parts and mistakes. He also spoke highly of his co-star, Winona Ryder, describing her as an incredibly sensitive and unique individual, unlike anyone he’s ever known.

Noah Schnapp, known for his role as Will Byers, has also been involved in a few controversies over time.

In 2023, Noah faced criticism for his online comments regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. He stated that “Zionism is se” and claimed “You’re either with Israel or with terrorism.” These posts caused significant public upset, and Noah later posted a TikTok video explaining that his words had been misinterpreted.

He stated his simple wish: peace, safety, and security for everyone caught in the conflict. Noah also shared that he’d been talking with Palestinian friends and gained valuable insights from those conversations, emphasizing the importance of understanding different perspectives.

Noah has faced controversy beyond his political comments. In 2020, at age 15, he was criticized for allegedly using a racial slur in a song. Noah explained he’d never actually said the slur and had instead used the word “neighbour.” He later apologized, stating he should have remained silent and that he had never used the offensive word in his life.

Charlie Heaton, known for his role as Jonathan Byers, faced a potential career setback in 2017. He was found with cocaine at the Los Angeles airport and returned to London. He explained that while he wasn’t arrested or formally charged, he cooperated with authorities to address the issue.

The Daily Mail reports that Netflix kept Charlie on the show because the creators thought highly of him. Kim Wilcox, the costume designer, shared, “Charlie is actually one of my favorites… he’s a very sensitive person… I believe he’s a good man who has made some positive choices in his life.”

Brett Gelman, the actor who plays Murray Bauman, also sparked discussion due to comments he made online. He publicly supported Noah Schnapp’s social media posts regarding Israel and told TMZ that Noah shouldn’t have to apologize for them.

Look, I get it – Brett isn’t a fan of Netanyahu, and that’s fair enough. But he made it very clear he’s a staunch supporter of Israel and the Israeli people. However, things got really heated online when he started referring to Palestinians as ‘fake woke liberals’ and essentially accused others of being clueless about the complexities of the conflict. Those posts blew up on social media, sparking a lot of debate – and frankly, a lot of controversy. It was a messy situation, to say the least.

Joseph Quinn, who portrayed Eddie Munson, quickly became a beloved character, even though he wasn’t in as many scenes as some of the show’s leads. His character’s brave death in the fourth season deeply saddened fans.

Joseph also gained attention in 2024 when he began dating singer Doja Cat. Their relationship drew criticism due to past controversial statements made by Doja Cat. She had previously made light of the coronavirus pandemic in a now-criticized Instagram Live video, saying she wasn’t afraid of the virus and would even drink a Corona beer despite it.

Honestly, the whole situation with Doja Cat and Joe Keery was wild. She ended up having to explain herself about hanging out in some online chatrooms that people claimed were connected to the alt-right. She basically said her friends in those chats weren’t white supremacists and just…left it at that. It really made fans question what Joe was thinking, you know? Sadly, it seems like they’ve broken up now, and I’ve heard Joe is already back on dating apps. It’s a shame, I thought they were a cute couple.

The creators of Stranger Things, brothers Matt and Ross Duffer, were involved in a lawsuit. In 2016, filmmaker Charlie Kessler accused them of copying his 2012 short film, Montauk.

The legal battle lasted a year, but was dismissed right before it went to court. Kessler eventually acknowledged he was mistaken, stating, “After reviewing the sworn testimony, it’s clear that my work wasn’t involved in the creation of Stranger Things, despite what I previously thought.”

The Duffer Brothers’ lawyer stated they’d been developing the idea for the show since 2010 and have paperwork to support that they created it on their own.

I’ve been hooked on Stranger Things since the beginning! It’s always given us these amazing, exciting stories with a really cool, retro feel, and it keeps you on the edge of your seat. Honestly, though, what’s been happening behind the scenes has been almost as fascinating as the show itself.

Over the past decade, the cast and creators of the show have faced a lot of public attention, not just for the series itself, but also for personal issues like accusations of bullying, cheating, legal problems, and controversial online activity. As the fifth and final season wraps up, fans will remember both the show’s thrilling monsters and mysteries, and the real-life drama that followed those who brought it to life.

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2025-11-10 14:45