Millie Bobby Brown and Noah Schnapp, stars of Stranger Things, often find themselves at the center of internet controversies. Being young and active online is challenging enough, but their fame amplifies these issues significantly.
On December 12, 2024, a post from a satirical account called Drop Pop went viral on X, claiming that Schnapp, who is openly gay, said Brown made jokes about setting him on fire and referred to him as “LGBBQ” (a mocking term meaning “Lesbian Gay Barbeque”). This claim, however, is entirely fabricated. Drop Pop is a parody account designed to mimic pop culture news accounts but creates fictional, often absurd stories purely for comedic effect. Despite its intent, many people took the post seriously, highlighting the problem of users sharing headlines without verifying their accuracy.
This isn’t the first time Brown has been targeted online. In 2018, she left X after memes falsely accused her of being homophobic, with some users creating doctored images of her Snapchat posts. These memes, spread under hashtags like #TakeDownMillieBobbyBrown, were intended as ironic humor but ultimately crossed the line by using a child’s image to make inappropriate jokes. As Vox journalist Alex Abad-Santos noted, this situation illustrates the internet’s toxic relationship with irony and its tendency to use outrage as a form of engagement.
Satirical accounts like Drop Pop thrive because many people fail to distinguish between satire and genuine reporting. They often avoid linking sources, focus on easy targets like celebrities who are already under public scrutiny, and use language that can appear credible while hinting at their ironic intent. Recognizing these red flags is crucial to avoid falling for or spreading misinformation disguised as humor.
