Paapa Essiedu, who is set to play Professor Severus Snape in HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series, has spoken out about the racist death threats he has received since his casting was announced.

In an interview with The Times, he revealed that the threats have been constant since his casting in April 2025. “I’ve been told, ‘Quit or I’ll murder you,'” he said. “The reality is that if I look at Instagram I will see somebody saying, ‘I’m going to come to your house and kill you.’ Nobody should have to encounter this for doing their job. I’m playing a wizard in Harry Potter. And I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t affect me emotionally.”

Despite the abuse, Essiedu says it has only strengthened his resolve. “I think of how I felt as a kid,” he said. “I would imagine myself at Hogwarts on broomsticks, and the idea that a kid like me can see themselves represented in that world? That’s motivation to not be intimidated by someone saying they’d rather I died instead of doing work I’m going to be really proud of.”

HBO has since tightened security on set in response to the threats. Network chief Casey Bloys told Variety the situation “can get scary in places,” adding that they have “a serious security team” in place. Essiedu takes over the role from the late Alan Rickman, who played Snape across all eight original films. The new series is set to premiere on HBO Max on Christmas Day 2026.

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