😡 STRANGER THINGS SLAMMED FOR “WOKENESS” – Fans ERUPTING Over Will’s Gay Scene: “It Ruined EVERYTHING!” 😡
The finale was epic… until THAT scene. Will Byers’ big coming-out monologue in “The Bridge” has fans in full MELTDOWN – review-bombing the episode to the LOWEST rating ever, screaming “forced agenda,” “woke garbage,” and “Netflix ruined Stranger Things with gay propaganda right before the apocalypse!”
Elon Musk jumped in calling it unnecessary, Rotten Tomatoes tanked to 56%, IMDb flooded with 1-stars… Homophobic trolls vs. disappointed viewers saying it killed the tension and pacing. Duffers shocked: “We didn’t see this hate coming after 9 years of buildup!”
Is this the death of Hawkins’ legacy? Or just toxic backlash to a brave moment?
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Netflix’s blockbuster finale to Stranger Things has turned into a full-blown culture war battlefield, with the penultimate episode “The Bridge” – featuring Will Byers’ emotional coming-out as gay – sparking a massive review-bombing campaign and cries of “wokeness” destroying the once-beloved series.
Just days after the supersized series finale “The Rightside Up” dropped on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2025, the backlash has dominated online discourse. Episode 7 of Season 5, released as part of Volume 2 on Christmas Day, saw Will (Noah Schnapp) deliver a lengthy monologue confessing his sexuality to friends and family ahead of the final showdown with Vecna. The moment, intended to strip the villain of leverage over Will’s deepest fears, has instead become ground zero for fan fury.
IMDb ratings for “The Bridge” plummeted to a series-low 5.4-5.6 out of 10, with over 100,000 reviews – far outpacing other episodes’ typical 50,000. Rotten Tomatoes audience score for the season cratered to 56%, the lowest of any season, down from highs in the 80-90% range for prior installments. Social media exploded with complaints: “Woke ruins EVERYTHING,” “Forced gay agenda right before killing Vecna,” and “Netflix doubling down on pushing this – horrible and unnecessary.”
High-profile voices amplified the outrage. Elon Musk weighed in on X, responding to a clip by calling it “completely unnecessary and forced on an audience that just wants to enjoy some basic science fiction,” adding that “the culture is changing.” Conservative outlets and commentators piled on, with one branding it “Netflix pushing the gay agenda – the kid couldn’t defeat the demon without coming out first.”
Critics of the scene argued the timing halted momentum during the high-stakes buildup to the finale, labeling it poor pacing in an already criticized season plagued by filler, plot holes, and uneven effects. Some fans lamented the show joining “the list of great series ending poorly,” comparing it to divisive finales like Game of Thrones.
But defenders pushed back hard, pointing out Will’s sexuality has been subtly built since Season 1 – from Joyce and Hopper’s early concerns about his differences, to his emotional struggles and implied crush on Mike in Season 4. “Will being gay has been part of the show forever,” one viral X post read, viewed millions of times. “Coming out in the ’80s was terrifying, and Vecna exploits your worst fear – this was earned, not an agenda.”
Queer fans and allies hailed it as a powerful payoff, especially resonant with Schnapp, who came out as gay himself in 2023. The scene ties directly to themes of self-acceptance conquering trauma, with Will overcoming isolation to help defeat Vecna – Joyce landing the fatal blow in the finale.
Creators Matt and Ross Duffer addressed the storm in post-finale interviews, admitting surprise at the venom. “No is the honest truth” when asked if they anticipated homophobic backlash, Matt told Variety. “We’ve been building to this for nine years.” Ross called it “the ultimate f— you to Vecna,” emphasizing narrative necessity: Will needed to face his fear head-on.
The brothers spent more time crafting the monologue than any other scene, prioritizing Schnapp’s comfort. “Noah gave a brave, vulnerable performance – we’re proud of it,” they said, standing firm despite the review bombs.
Broader Season 5 gripes – meandering plots, lack of stakes, aging cast dynamics post-delays – fueled the fire, but the coming-out moment drew the sharpest knives. Petitions and counter-petitions swirled, with some fans combating bombs by flooding positive reviews.
Netflix hasn’t commented directly, but the controversy hasn’t dented viewership: The staggered release – Volume 1 on November 26, Volume 2 on December 25, finale on December 31 (with theatrical screenings) – shattered records, crashing servers and drawing massive global audiences.
As emotions simmer post-finale – complete with heartfelt epilogues, Vecna’s defeat, and ambiguous hints at Eleven’s survival – the saga’s legacy hangs in balance. For many, it’s a triumphant close centering friendship and growth. For others, the “woke” label sticks.
The Duffers, exhausted after a decade, move on proud. Spinoffs loom: animated Tales from ’85 in 2026, live-action expansions. But this backlash underscores polarized times – a kids-vs-monsters tale now entangled in real-world debates.
One thing’s undisputed: Stranger Things flipped pop culture upside down. Whether the gay scene elevated or “ruined” it? Fans will argue for years.
