Noah Schnapp harassed at UPenn

Rumors of harassment follow ‘Strangers Things’ star into college

Sarah Fahey / Asst. A&C Editor / The USD Vista

While transitioning from high school to college, actor Noah Schnapp — commonly known as Will Byers in “Stranger Things” — has run into many issues, mostly because of his fame. Though adjusting to college life is hard for any student, Schnapp’s celebrity status has seemed to hurt him rather than help him.

Months ago, Schnapp released a TikTok video of him and his family’s ecstatic reaction to his acceptance to the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) as a business and entrepreneurship major. Since then, Schnapp seemed to face multiple challenges during the first semester of his freshman year. 

Despite Schnapp’s excitement, multiple viral videos surfaced on TikTok regarding how students are seeking to allegedly exploit and humiliate the actor for their own gain. 

Allegedly, screenshots also emerged where some say they want to put something in his drink or persuade him to participate in illicit activities, such as drug use. 

Twitter user @burner4noah shared screenshots of text messages discussing Schnapp.

“[They] only want to befriend him because he is famous,” the Twitter user said. “They don’t see him as a person.”

Videos have shown Schnapp’s “friends” laughing at him behind his back and even peer pressuring him to jump in a pool reportedly filled with cigarettes and cans. These are all alleged attempts to get videos of Schnapp participating in outrageous activities to sell to paparazzi platforms, with one of the videos first surfacing on TMZ, before circulating on TikTok.

It is clear that Schnapp wants to fit in at his new university, but he doesn’t seem to have much luck due to students just wanting to use him. Most importantly, he wants to experience college like any other student, regardless of his fame. 

USD junior Emily Leyva comments on the troubling events surrounding the actor.

“There’s already so much pressure from being in the industry at such a young age,” Leyva said. “Having that happen to him when he tries to have a normal life is kinda sad.”

In an interview with Jimmy Fallon, Schnapp talked about how thrilled he was to experience college.

“I have a roommate,” Schnapp said. “That’s one thing I was very excited about was living in a dorm.”

A common desire for many college students is to move out and discover their own independence. Though mundane, living in a dorm away from home is a very thrilling prospect for many as they transition into university life.

Many students can relate to trying to fit in and find belonging, especially when moving to a completely different and new environment. USD junior Alissa Trejo spoke about her experience as an out-of-state student.

“I did feel a little out of place when coming to USD,” Trejo said. “It was overwhelming. I had to put myself out there to find a community.”

It is very easy to succumb to peer pressure when trying to fit in. Belonging is a strong feeling that many students crave. Arriving in a completely different setting is intimidating and a sure way to bring out anyone’s insecurities. Leyva confides in her experience first being on campus.

“I’ve definitely felt like I don’t fit in at times,” Leyva said. “Especially having my freshman year online, I feel like it took me such a long time to get comfortable and to get to know people at USD.”

Schnapp has not personally responded to his college experience, with all that has surfaced on social media being solely rumored through screenshots. UPenn has not commented on the issue either.

College is a difficult transition for anyone, especially for those experiencing bullying and harassment, like Schnapp