Noah Schnapp, the 21-year-old Stranger Things actor famous for playing Will Byers, has shared his first public photo with a new boyfriend on Instagram. The image, posted to his Stories on Wednesday, shows the pair from behind on a rooftop overlooking a city skyline. Schnapp captioned it: “One month of us,” followed by a red heart emoji. He has not yet revealed his boyfriend’s identity.

This announcement comes more than three years after Schnapp came out as gay in January 2023.

Coming Out Journey

In a January 2023 TikTok video, Schnapp reflected on telling friends and family: “When I finally told my friends and family I was gay after being scared in the closet for 18 years and all they said was ‘we know.'” He mouthed along to audio saying, “You know it never was that serious… we will never be that serious.” Schnapp added, “I guess I’m more similar to Will Byers than I thought!”

Will Byers’ Storyline

Schnapp confirmed in 2022 that his character Will is gay and in love with best friend Mike Wheeler. “Obviously, it was hinted at in Season 1… Now it’s 100% clear that he is gay and he does love Mike. But before, it was a slow arc,” he stated. He praised the portrayal: “Done so beautifully, because it’s so easy to make a character just all of a sudden be gay.”

In the fifth and final season, released late last year, Will officially comes out in the episode “The Bridge.” Schnapp defended the five-minute scene against criticism labeling it “woke” and out of place.

Filming the Key Scene

Schnapp described the script as “perfect,” noting “no part of that scene felt forced or produced.” He credited preparation time and supportive castmates. “Watching it back onscreen and getting to see everyone’s reactions was really sweet and emotional,” he said. Reading the scene aloud with castmates lifted “a little bit of a weight off my chest.”

To prepare, Schnapp reread his own coming-out texts and reviewed photos from that period. “Trying to stay in it was hard, and it was the middle of the night too, so it was exhausting,” he shared.

Co-Star Support

Schnapp recounted coming out to co-star Millie Bobby Brown via FaceTime from a Party City store: “Millie, I’m gay.” She responded, “Oh, Schnapper! You told me finally!” He explained, “I kept trying to do it in person with her, and it was too hard.”

Portraying Will accelerated his self-acceptance: “Once I did fully embrace that Will was gay, it was just an exponential speed towards accepting it for myself. I would be in a completely different place if I didn’t have Will… I probably would still be closeted.”

End of Stranger Things and Future Plans

A main cast member since 2016, Schnapp called the final day “surreal.” “The goodbye was hard. I grappled with this feeling like my life is over… this is my whole identity,” he said.

He believes his work with Will is complete: “I think my work is done with that character. The story for him has been told.” Schnapp has no interest in reprising the role but would “love to work with the Duffers again on another project.” Looking ahead, he eyes theater and films: “I’d love to do theater… But no set path, I’m just excited for what’s next.”