'Netflix Is A Joke': Stranger Things Fans Erupt as Will's Coming-Out Scene Triggers Furious Backlash Online

For nearly a decade, 'Stranger Things' has quietly developed Will Byers as its most fragile and mysterious character.

However, Will's coming out scene in Season 5, Episode 7, titled 'The Bridge', sparked significant online backlash; some viewers praised its emotional honesty, while others accused Netflix of commandeering the show's finale for cultural messaging.

Will Byers Was Always Different

From the moment 'Stranger Things' premiered in 2016, Will was distinguishable from his friends. In the first season, his mother Joyce recalled how his father mocked him as 'queer', a moment that lingered long after Will vanished into the Upside Down. Even after his rescue, Will never quite rejoined the carefree rhythm of Mike, Lucas, and Dustin.

As the boys grew older and paired off with girlfriends, Will remained isolated. In Season 3, Mike snapped at him for not liking girls, a line that sent speculation about Will's sexuality into overdrive. By Season 4, that speculation deepened when Will broke down while trying to express his feelings to Mike, though the show stopped short of spelling it out.

That silence ended in Season 5. In Episode 7, Will finally told his friends and family, 'I don't like girls,' delivering the confession many viewers had been waiting for since the show's early days.

The Scene That Set Social Media On Fire

The coming out scene unfolded in a quiet, emotional circle of loved ones. Will first confided in Joyce and his brother Jonathan before speaking to his friends, including Mike, Eleven and Max. His monologue referenced a story about 'Tammy', a metaphor drawn from Robin's own coming out journey, before the camera lingered on Mike's face.

Series creator Ross Duffer later confirmed the intent was clear. Mike was meant to understand that Will's feelings were about him. For some fans, the moment felt earned and deeply moving. For others, it crossed a line.

Twitter quickly filled with angry reactions. One user wrote, 'Five seasons, hundreds of millions of dollars, and this is all Stranger Things will be remembered for. Netflix is a joke.' Another said, 'This is one of the worst scenes in the entire show. You cannot convince me this was good.' Others mocked the storyline, claiming the real villain was 'toxic masculinity' rather than Vecna.

The backlash was loud. Critics argued the confession was unnecessary to the plot and distracted from the show's supernatural stakes. Some claimed Netflix had turned a horror fantasy into a social lecture. One viral post asked, 'Why are you still paying for Netflix?'

The backlash reflected a wider culture clash playing out across television, where representation is increasingly visible and increasingly contested. Stranger Things, once seen as nostalgic escapism, suddenly found itself at the centre of a polarising debate.

Noah Schnapp And The Final Chapter

The moment also carried real world weight for Noah Schnapp, who has played Will since he was a child. Schnapp publicly came out as gay in 2023, and his performance in Episode 7 was widely described as his most intense and mature yet.

Will's confession also tied into the season's larger themes. Earlier episodes revealed Will had developed sorcerer like abilities, and Episode 7 framed his honesty as the key to breaking Vecna's grip on his mind. In that sense, the show linked self acceptance with survival, positioning Will as both emotional and literal hero.

Whether loved or loathed, the scene ensured Stranger Things would not end quietly. As the series approaches its final episode, Netflix faces a divided audience, one half applauding the show's courage and the other accusing it of losing its soul. Either way, Will Byers' confession has cemented its place as one of the most talked about moments in the show's history.