Paapa Essiedu receives death threats after "Harry Potter" casting

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Paapa Essiedu receives death threats after "Harry Potter" casting

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Writer: Heidi Hsia

Paapa Essiedu: Nobody should have to encounter this for doing their job

24 Mar - Paapa Essiedu recently revealed that he has received several death threats since his casting as Professor Severus Snape in the HBO series of the JK Rowling fantasy series, "Harry Potter".

The British actor, who spoke about the experience in an interview with The Times, said that the backlash started after the news of his casting was announced back in April 2025.

"It really matters. 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.' So, while I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be murdered... That could age badly! But, yes, while I hope I'll be okay, nobody should have to encounter this for doing their job," he said.

"Many people put their lives on the line in their work. I'm playing a wizard in Harry Potter. And I'd be lying if I said it doesn't affect me emotionally."

Alan Rickman was also criticised when he was first cast as Professor Snape

It is noted that the character was previously played by the late Sir Alan Rickman, whose casting was also criticised when he was announced due to the fact that he was quite old to play the Hogwarts teacher, who is revealed to be 31 in the first book.

However, Essiedu said that the threats made him more motivated to play the character his own way.

"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 by someone saying they'd rather I died instead of doing work I'm going to be really proud of," he continued.

However, it is noted that some fans of the books and the series have expressed understandable concern over the casting of Essiedu when it was announced. Some reasoned that the fact that scenes of Harry's father James Potter and his friends bullying Snape would be extremely racist rather than just a normal high school bullying by having the Ghanaian British actor play the role.

Harry's father James uses magic to hang Snape upside down mid-air in a scene from "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"

Cinema Online, 24 March 2026

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Paapa Essiedu receives death threats after "Harry Potter" casting

Writer: Heidi Hsia

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