According to People, in a series of now deleted posts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, Stokes used racist, homophobic and ableist language and comments about the LGBTQIA+ community, disabled community and even Justin Bieber. While the comments were made in 2007, 2010 and 2013, we know that the harm they can have on a person in these communities doesn't have an expiry date.
Then, on Monday, the Outer Banks star released a Notes app screenshot apology, confessing he was “flawed,… sorry,” and, allegedly, “hacked.”
“Yes, I will address this,” he says. “I was not hiding. I consulted one of my closest friends just as anybody else would.”
“I have posted insensitive tweets. My Facebook has been hacked countless times. The picture isn’t even of me or anybody I know. Again, I am incredibly sorry. I really am. I hope you guys see what I am currently doing and how I am continuing to do the right thing by being respectful in today’s climate.”
“This does not excuse my words, nor am I excusing myself. I will continue to work towards using my platform in the same capacity I have been and doing/bringing light to the world.”
The post was then deleted from his Twitter account and followed up by some tweets alluding to the hacking and claims that he’d get to the bottom of this mess.
Needless to say, deleting the apology and every other tweet on your profile and then blaming the controversy on a hacker not only is super awkward but completely redacts his sentiments to the people impacted by his comments.
Previously, the Netflix actor was praised for becoming a voice for normalising mental health.
Stokes’ Outer Banks costar Jonathan Daviss asked fans to “move with love and understanding first instead of hate.”
