Washington [US], March 22 -- British actor Paapa Essiedu, who is set to step into the iconic role of Severus Snape in the upcoming Harry Potter series, has spoken about facing racist abuse and death threats following his casting. His revelations have reignited conversations around online toxicity and the pressures faced by actors in globally popular franchises.

Essiedu, known for his acclaimed performance in I May Destroy You, shared in a recent interview that the backlash escalated to disturbing levels. Recalling some of the messages he received, the actor said he was told to "quit or be murdered," underlining the intensity of the hate directed at him since the casting announcement.

The role of Snape, originally immortalised by the lat...