KATSEYE's Lara Raj seems like she's ready to take a trip to the Upside Down after sharing that she is a fan of the wildly popular Netflix series Stranger Things earlier this week.
The girl group member, who came out as queer earlier this year called the show a "cinematic masterpiece" and said that Noah Schnapp's character, Will, "looks hot" in a recent TikTok livestream. This then prompted swift backlash from social media users who were upset that she extended a compliment to the controversial actor.
@michaelismyname04 Lara’s recent live clips… #lararaj #katseyelara #katseye #weverse #myway
"Will looks so hot," the Grammy-nominated singer said in the video. "He looks so hot in that last scene – I’m like, period! You’re giving.”
After her fans informed her of the controversial comments he made, she clarified her statement and said, "Oh hell nah guys, I am just a fan of the show! I was not aware of any of the actors' backgrounds or stances. I was not sharing support for anything but the show do not get it twisted! Thank you."
Schnapp, who plays Will Byers in Netflix's smash hit series and identifies as gay, came under fire after he showed support for Israel a month after the October 7 attacks in Gaza; in an Instagram Story, he was seen laughing along with a group of people holding up "Zionism is sexy" stickers . After he faced backlash, Schnapp put out a statement on Instagram, saying, "As a Jewish American, I am afraid. Afraid for my brothers and sisters in Israel, who have been senselessly attacked by Hamas. I am truly heartbroken to see the brutal murders of innocent children, women, and soldiers fighting to defend themselves."
The show recently returned for its fifth and final season (after three years) and aired the first of two volumes in November, and the series finale will come out on December 31. Schnapp's character, Will, embarks on a journey of queer self-acceptance in the final season that was praised by Out critic Mey Rude for showing that "being gay is a superpower."
