Is noah schnapp gay — For years, fans of the Netflix global phenomenon Stranger Things speculated about the identity of both the character Will Byers and the actor who portrays him, Noah Schnapp. Today, the answer is a definitive yes: Noah Schnapp is gay.
As the final season of Stranger Things reaches its emotional climax this December, Schnapp’s real-life journey has mirrored his character’s arc in a way that has resonated with millions of fans worldwide.
The Coming Out Moment
Noah Schnapp officially came out to the public on January 5, 2023, via a viral TikTok video. In the clip, the then-18-year-old actor used a popular audio trend to share his news with a touch of humor.
“When I finally told my friends and family I was gay after being scared in the closet for 18 years and all they said was ‘we know,'” the text overlay on his video read.
He captioned the post with a nod to his Stranger Things character: “I guess I’m more similar to Will than I thought.”
The Will Byers Connection
The revelation followed years of fan theories regarding Will Byers’ sexuality. In July 2022, Schnapp confirmed to Variety that Will is “100% gay” and in love with his best friend, Mike Wheeler.
In recent interviews reflecting on the series finale (which premiered Volume 2 on Christmas Day, 2025), Schnapp admitted that portraying Will’s struggle helped him navigate his own. “I would be in a completely different place if I didn’t have Will to portray,” Schnapp told Time. He noted that seeing the positive audience reaction to Will being gay gave him the courage to stop hiding his own identity.
Navigating Fame and Privacy
Now 21, Schnapp has been candid about the pressures of growing up in the spotlight. He recently recalled how, at just 12 or 13 years old, journalists would “pry” and ask him if he or his character were gay.
“I was obviously very scared of talking about it,” he shared. “I didn’t know what to say.”
What’s Next for Noah?
As Stranger Things concludes its final chapter on New Year’s Eve, Schnapp is looking toward a future that includes:
- Selective Acting: He has expressed a desire to take on more LGBTQ+ roles, but only if they “truly resonate” rather than just filling diversity quotas.
- Entrepreneurship: He continues to grow his sustainability-focused snacking brand, TBH (To Be Honest).
- Personal Milestones: Schnapp remains close with his co-stars, recently celebrating being named the godfather to Millie Bobby Brown’s daughter.