NetflixStranger Things season 2 has taken everyone by storm, and has more than definitely lived up to the hype.
The show has revitalised the careers of iconic actors like Winona Ryder and Sean Astin, and has made household names out of the younger half of the cast.
None more so than Finn Wolfhard, who has doubled his zeitgeist prominence with an almost film-stealing performance in this year’s adaption of Stephen King’s It.
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Between Stranger Things and It, it’s no surprise the 14-year-old is the subject of much media attention.
He hit the headlines last week for the ‘inappropriate’ comments which were made about him by a 27-year-old model.
Ali Michael posted to her Instagram a picture of Wolfhard – who plays Mike on the show – with the caption, ‘Not to be weird but hit me up in 4 years @finnwolfhardofficial’.
this is disgusting, she’s literally 27 and he’s 14 what the fuck pic.twitter.com/apZRunPlIR
— cal (@tomothyholland) October 30, 2017
Michael was roundly condemned for her words, and issued an apology in relation to the comments.
But now Wolfhard has made his own thoughts clear on the matter when he was asked by a TMZ reporter about the incident.
When asked outside an airport, Wolfhard said:
Oh that was nuts. That was gross. That’s good that she apologised, it’s weird but… it’s fine.
Check out the video here:
You can see in the video the kid is kind of grossed out by the whole situation and feels really uncomfortable about what went down.
Michael published a full apology for the comments and said she understood why people were offended.
She wrote in Teen Vogue:
On October 30th, I posted an Instagram Story with a photo of Finn Wolfhard who plays ‘Mike’ in Stranger Things asking him to, ‘call me in four years’.
The general nature of my social media platforms is often one of humor, sarcasm and playful self-deprecation. I often quote, post and publicly respond to music videos, films, documentaries and television shows in a frank and candid manner.
The nature of my posts in response to television and media are always tongue-in-cheek and never intended to mislead or upset anyone.
She continued:
In the past, I have asked fictitious characters of films to call me (namely Edward Scissorhands and Simba from the Lion King). In this instance, it has become clear to me that asking a character ‘to call in four years’ and inappropriately tagging the underage actor who plays the character (Mike) was upsetting, suggestive and concerning for my audience.
It was never my intention (nor has it ever been) to sexualise a minor in any way shape or form. To those I offended or misled, I apologise for a post made in haste and lacking in sensitivity, particularly considering the landscape of the present culture.
Wider discussions have been taking place around the treatment of child stars from the show, after some criticised the children for refusing to take pictures with fans.
It doesn’t matter if they are an actor… they are kids first. Give them the space they need in order to grow without feeling like they owe
— Sophie Turner (@SophieT) November 6, 2017
Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner even weighed in on the issue of media attention on the kids, something which she knows a great deal about, saying ‘they are kids first’.
She tweeted:
It doesn’t matter if they are an actor… they are kids first. Give them the space they need in order to grow without feeling like they owe anything for living their childhood dreams.
Stranger Things is streaming now on Netflix.
