Few moments in pop culture land quite like the one where an actor’s on-screen role and real life converge. Noah Schnapp, the 18-year-old star of Stranger Things, posted a casual TikTok on January 5, 2023, that did more than share a lip-sync video—he came out as gay, directly referencing his character Will Byers.
Date of coming out: January 2023 ·
Platform: TikTok ·
Age at coming out: 18 ·
Character played: Will Byers in Stranger Things ·
Public reaction: Widespread support
Quick snapshot
- Noah Schnapp came out as gay on TikTok in January 2023 (CNN (news outlet))
- Will Byers was written as gay by the Duffer Brothers before Schnapp’s casting (Seventeen (teen lifestyle magazine))
- Maya Hawke has publicly identified as bisexual (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- Whether Noah Schnapp has ever dated anyone specific
- Joe Keery’s personal sexuality (not publicly disclosed)
- Who Schnapp’s current or past crushes are
- 2016: Stranger Things premieres, Schnapp plays Will Byers (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- 2022: Season 4 confirms Will Byers is gay (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- January 2023: Schnapp comes out on TikTok (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- Final season of Stranger Things likely to further explore Will’s storyline
- Continued LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream media
Seven facts about Schnapp, one pattern: the timeline of his public identity closely mirrors his character’s arc.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Noah Cameron Schnapp |
| Born | October 3, 2004 (age 20) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Known for | Will Byers in Stranger Things |
| Sexuality | Gay |
| Coming out date | January 2023 |
| Coming out platform | TikTok |
This table captures the key biographical facts about Schnapp that are publicly verified.
When did Noah Schnapp come out?
Noah Schnapp came out as gay on January 5, 2023, via a TikTok video that quickly went viral (CNN (news outlet)). The post was a lip-sync to the audio “You know what it never was? That serious,” and the text overlay read: “When I finally told my friends and family I was gay after being scared in the closet for 18 years and they responded, ‘we know.’” The caption linked his identity to his Stranger Things character: “I guess I’m more similar to Will than I thought.”
What did Noah Schnapp say in his TikTok video?
- He revealed he had been “scared in the closet for 18 years” (USA Today (national newspaper))
- His friends and family already knew, responding with “we know” (Vulture (entertainment magazine))
- The video was filmed during a long drive back to New York after dropping his sister off in Boston (Yahoo Entertainment (news aggregator))
Why did Noah Schnapp come out on TikTok?
Schnapp chose TikTok because it felt natural and low-pressure. He later told Business Insider (business news site) that he came out to his co-star Millie Bobby Brown via FaceTime first, then decided to make a public post. The platform allowed him to frame the announcement as a playful, everyday moment rather than a formal statement. The TikTok had amassed over 1.8 million likes by June 2023 (Seventeen (teen lifestyle magazine)).
Schnapp’s casual TikTok announcement broke the mold of traditional celebrity coming-out statements. For a generation raised on social media, it signaled that authenticity can be shared without a press release.
The implication: Schnapp’s choice of TikTok reflects a generational shift in how young celebrities share personal news—spontaneous, direct, and tied to the cultural moment.
What is Noah Schnapp’s sexuality?
Noah Schnapp is gay. He has not publicly identified as bisexual or any other label. His coming-out post explicitly used the word “gay.” Since then, he has not made any statements that contradict that identity (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).
Is Noah Schnapp gay or bisexual?
He is gay. The TikTok caption and subsequent interviews consistently refer to him being gay.
Has Noah Schnapp ever dated a guy?
There is no public record of Noah Schnapp dating anyone—male or female. He has not confirmed any past or current relationships. His coming-out video did not mention a partner, and no reliable sources have named a boyfriend or girlfriend.
While Schnapp is open about his sexuality, the absence of a public dating history means fans and media often speculate. Without confirmation, any claims about a specific relationship remain unverified.
The pattern: Schnapp’s public identity is clear, but his private life remains largely off-limits—a deliberate boundary that many young celebrities maintain.
Who in Stranger Things is LGBT?
Several cast members of Stranger Things have publicly shared their LGBTQ+ identities. The show’s diverse representation extends beyond the screen.
Is Maya Hawke actually LGBTQ?
Yes, Maya Hawke, who plays Robin Buckley, has spoken about her bisexuality. In interviews, she has described her sexuality as fluid and has acknowledged being attracted to both men and women (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).
Is Joe Keery LGBTQ in real life?
Joe Keery (Steve Harrington) has not publicly identified as LGBTQ. He is often described as an ally and has not made any statements about his own sexuality. Without disclosure, it is not accurate to label him beyond what he has said publicly.
Who is gay in Stranger Things in real life?
- Noah Schnapp (Will Byers) – gay
- Maya Hawke (Robin Buckley) – bisexual
- Other cast members, including Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, and Sadie Sink, have not publicly identified as LGBTQ.
The trade-off: While the show features a gay character and a bisexual actor, the majority of the main cast is not publicly LGBTQ. This reflects the broader industry pattern where LGBTQ+ representation on screen sometimes outpaces the real-life diversity of the cast.
Did they make Will gay because Noah is gay?
No. The Duffer Brothers wrote Will Byers as a gay character long before they knew Noah Schnapp’s personal sexuality. The decision was made during the writing of Season 4, when Will’s romantic feelings for Mike Wheeler were revealed (Seventeen (teen lifestyle magazine)).
Was Will Byers written as gay before Noah Schnapp’s casting?
Yes, the character’s arc was established from the early seasons. Schnapp himself has said that playing Will helped him accept his own identity.
How did Noah Schnapp’s coming out relate to Will Byers?
Schnapp explicitly connected the two. His TikTok caption “I guess I’m more similar to Will than I thought” directly linked his personal truth to the character he played. The relationship is symbiotic: Will’s story gave Schnapp the courage to come out, and Schnapp’s coming out in turn deepened the meaning of Will’s character for fans.
The Duffer Brothers didn’t write Will gay because of Schnapp, but Schnapp’s real-life identity and his on-screen role aligned in a way that felt inevitable. That convergence made the coming-out moment resonate far beyond a typical celebrity announcement.
The implication: The casting and writing process were independent, but the result created a powerful feedback loop—art imitating life, and life imitating art.
Timeline
- October 3, 2004: Noah Schnapp is born.
- 2016: Stranger Things premieres; Schnapp plays Will Byers (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- 2022: Season 4 reveals Will Byers is in love with Mike Wheeler, confirming character’s sexuality.
- January 2023: Noah Schnapp comes out as gay via TikTok (CNN (news outlet))
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- Noah Schnapp has publicly identified as gay.
- He came out on TikTok in January 2023.
- Will Byers is a gay character.
- Maya Hawke has publicly identified as bisexual.
What’s unclear
- Who Noah Schnapp’s current or past crushes are (if anyone specific).
- Whether Noah Schnapp has ever dated anyone.
- Joe Keery’s personal sexuality (not publicly disclosed).
Quotes
When I finally told my friends and family I was gay after being scared in the closet for 18 years and they responded, ‘we know.’
— Noah Schnapp, TikTok caption, January 2023 (CNN (news outlet))
I guess I’m more similar to Will than I thought.
— Noah Schnapp, TikTok caption, January 2023 (USA Today (national newspaper))
I would have stayed closeted if not for Will’s storyline.
— Noah Schnapp, Instagram post, 2025 (Yahoo Entertainment (news aggregator))
Summary
Noah Schnapp’s coming-out story is not just a celebrity announcement—it’s a case study in how representation on screen can create real-world courage. For young LGBTQ+ fans, the choice is clear: seeing a beloved actor live openly reinforces that the stories we tell matter. For the entertainment industry, the lesson is that authenticity, both on and off screen, builds deeper connections with audiences.
Frequently asked questions
Is Noah Schnapp gay?
Yes, he came out as gay in January 2023.
When did Noah Schnapp come out as gay?
On January 5, 2023, via TikTok.
Why did Noah Schnapp come out on TikTok?
He chose TikTok because it felt casual and natural; he later said the character Will Byers inspired him.
Is Will Byers from Stranger Things gay?
Yes, the character was written as gay, confirmed in Season 4.
Are any Stranger Things actors LGBTQ in real life?
Noah Schnapp (gay) and Maya Hawke (bisexual) have publicly identified as LGBTQ.
Has Noah Schnapp ever dated anyone?
There is no public record of him dating anyone.
Did Noah Schnapp come out because of Will Byers?
He has said that playing Will helped him accept his identity, and he may not have come out if not for the role.
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