The White Lotus star Jason, who played Lucius Malfoy in the original Harry Potter films (a role that will now be played by Johnny Flynn) has addressed the abuse, throwing his support behind Paapa as Snape. “Paapa Essiedu is one of the best actors I’ve ever seen in my life,” he said.

In May, Essiedu and over 400 others in the film industry, including Fantastic Beasts' Eddie Redmayne, signed an open letter condemning the U.K. Supreme Court for ruling that the definition of a woman is based on biological sex and that transgender women are not included within that legal definition.

Jason Isaacs called out racist “Harry Potter” fans during a conversation with Collider at Fans Expo. Isaacs, who is currently an Emmy contender for his work on “The White Lotus” Season 3, starred in the original “Harry Potter” film franchise as Lucius Malfoy,