Okay folks, so here’s the thing. If you’re not Black and you’re singing to a song—whether that be in the shower, car or at karaoke with friends—and it features the n-word, you just… don’t say it. That lil mini-second sound-byte is your time to breathe, pause and think about your day before jumping back into the tune, just as Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp recently learned.
Earlier this week, an old clip of the 15-year-old actor rapping to the Chris Brown and Lil Dicky song “Freaky Friday” resurfaced. In the clip, Schnapp allegedly says the line, “wonder if I can say the n-word” before, allegedly, saying it.
Soon after and in classic Twitter callout fashion, the hashtag #noahschappisoverparty began trending.
In response, Schnapp denies that he ever said the n-word, claiming that he said the word “neighbour” to replace it instead.
“Recently a video from last summer has gotten out of me dancing and singing a song while singing the word ‘neighbour’ over the n word,” he wrote in an apology statement on his Instagram Stories, as per Independent and Teen Vogue. “I would truly never say the n-word and I’m not the type of person. I genuinely have never used that word in my life.”
“Using the word ‘neighbour’ in that song was just something my camp friends and I did. I hope you all understand I could never even think about doing that. My friends also would never post a video, or support me, if I was saying a slur without hesitation.”
Even still, Schnapp understands that “it is not my place to use” a replacement word and that “should [have] kept my mouth shut.”
“I apologise for using a replacement word. It is not my place to use one and I should [have] kept my mouth shut. I understand why it is found offensive and I am so sorry.”
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