Paapa Essiedu, the actor for the upcoming series adaptation of Harry Potter, has faced racist death threats since he joined the series adaptation for the role of Snape, which he will play for a decade. The threats motivate him to continue working and play the role, despite the fact that he could potentially have children by the end of the project. Essaidu, who grew up with J.K. Rowling's fantasy novels, expressed his desire to make the character his own and said the abuse fuels him and makes him more passionate about his role. He also expressed his support for the anti-trans rights movement and signed a petition calling for the U.K.-based entertainment industry to protect trans rights.