Snape actor Paapa Essiedu responds to racist backlash over Harry Potter reboot casting

Paapa Essiedu is set to take over the role of Severus Snape from Alan Rickman in the upcoming HBO reboot, with fans getting their first glimpse at the I May Destroy You actor in the role in the newest trailer.

The Harry Potter HBO series is set to release in Christmas of this year, with the first trailer bringing fans back to Hogwarts.

With fans finding out that the trio of 11-year-old stars would be receiving £500k for their appearance in the first season interest has been sky-high in the wider cast.

John Lithgow, who plays Dumbledore in the reboot, has been one of several to speak out against JK Rowling’s transphobic comments, and has received backlash for this from supporters of the author.

This backlash however pales in comparison to the horrific abuse Paapa Essiedu has been receiving for being cast as Snape.

Essiedu was unveiled in the new trailer as Snape (HBO)

Snape’s race was never specified in the books beyond him being described as having ‘sallow skin’, a complexion typically found in Caucasian people.

Essiedu has been subject to horrific racist abuse because of his casting including death threats in which he was told ‘quit or I’ll murder you’.

HBO’s CEO Casey Bloys went as far as to say in an interview with Variety that the production had a ‘serious security team’

In an interview with the BBC the Essiedu directly addressed it, saying he’d ‘had some extreme responses over Snape casting.’

The actor went on to add: “There have been some extreme responses, and I’d be lying if I said that, you know, I’m a completely impenetrable robot, automation, you know.

“But I mean, there’s another question to do with like how you receive feedback and like social media and algorithms and why it is that certain things get pushed to the front and certain things don’t, it’s not a question.”

Essiedu has also received disgusting backlash online for being vocally supportive of the Transgender community despite the views of JK Rowling.

Last year Essiedu signed an open letter calling which condemned a controversial UK supreme court ruling which decided that any mention of ‘sex’ and ‘woman’ in the Equality Act refer to biological women and sex.

Paapa Essiedu received backlash for signing the letter, with some fans calling on JK Rowling to 'fire' him (Dave Benett/Getty Images for Harper's Bazaar UK)

The letter, which was also signed by Emma Watson, said: “We believe the ruling undermines the lived reality and threatens the safety of trans, non-binary and intersex people living in the UK.”

Rowling responded in a post on X, saying: ““I don’t have the power to sack an actor from the series and I wouldn’t exercise it if I did.

“I don’t believe in taking away people’s jobs or livelihoods because they hold legally protected beliefs that differ from mine.”

Speaking to The Times about signing the letter he said: “My points of view are mine and will continue to be so.

“I signed that letter because I believe that artists in the trans community have a right to be treated with dignity and should be able to work without being intimidated.

“I have been really supported by the production team, and I’d sign that letter again today.”

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone will premiere Christmas Day 2026.