Stranger Things viral “parents’ warning” claims Season 5 opens with “graphic” abuse scene
NetflixStranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 has arrived, and while it’s being celebrated far and wide, one corner of the internet has claimed the opening sequence involving Vecna and Will is a depiction of “graphic” child abuse – but it’s not quite accurate.
The opening five minutes of the hit Netflix series ties back to Stranger Things Season 1 in a big way. With the help of digital de-aging technology, it shows a young Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) when he was first sent to the Upside Down.
Will is seen hiding out in Castle Byers, before having to fend off a Demogorgon, making a run for it, and falling out of a tree. While unconscious, he’s taken to Vecna, proving he’s been behind the events of Stranger Things from the very beginning.
What happens next has been the subject of an unexpected debate thanks to alt-right political activist Jack Posobiec. Warning: some may find this content distressing.
Stranger Things Season 5 viral “warning” sparks debate
Posobiec took to X on Thursday (November 27) to write, “Warning for Parents: The new Stranger Things begins with an extremely graphic pedophile scene of a young child being raped by an older man.”
Now, the moment that has caused upset relates to the fact that Vecna plugs one of his vines to Will’s mouth, force-feeding him a mysterious substance that causes him to be inextricably linked to the Upside Down.
There’s no evidence the Duffer brothers have ever described this moment as a sexual assault metaphor or intended it to be read that way.
What is true is that Stranger Things has long pulled visual inspiration from Alien, and this moment echoes the franchise’s infamous facehugger attack on Kane. Crucially, Alien’s creators themselves described multiple sequences as metaphors for either sexual acts or assault.
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Late screenwriter Dan O’Bannon said in an interview for the Alien Quadrilogy DVD set, “One thing that people are all disturbed about is sex. I said, ‘That’s how I’m going to attack the audience – I’m going to attack them sexually.
“‘And I’m not going to go after the women in the audience, I’m going to attack the men. I am going to put in every image I can think of to make the men in the audience cross their legs: homosexual oral rape, birth… the thing lays its eggs down your throat, the whole number.’”
Special effects artist H.R. Giger also openly used themes of bodily violation in his designs for the sci-fi franchise.
But at most, Stranger Things pays homage to Alien and other sci-fi classics. It never frames its version this way, nor has Netflix or the Duffers ever suggested the scene is meant to depict sexual abuse.
It’s grotesque and disturbing, sure, but the sexual element is an interpretation at most. This may be why Posobiec’s post – which has since gone viral with more than 630,000 views – has been slapped with a Community Note.
“This is completely made up. There is no scene in the first episode of Season 5 of Stranger Things where a young child is raped in graphic detail by a pedophile,” it reads.
Fans respond to Alien interpretation
There are also hundreds of comments from viewers shutting down Posobiec’s claim. “Serious question because I watched it and the rest of the series – what are you even talking about?” asked one.
20th Century Fox“There was nothing even remotely approximating a child rape (or really anything even sexual at all) and I’m not even sure what could have been misconstrued that way. I’m actually seriously asking what you are referring to.”
“I watched it. That’s not what it shows. The creature, the basis for the entire series, sucks the life out of its victims. Similar to the creature in the Alien series,” said another, while a third added, “No it doesn’t. Kinda weird you’d think that.”
A fourth chimed in, “No, it doesn’t. Your post wildly misrepresents what happens. Will is captured by Vecna and Vecna forces Will to ingest particles from the Upside Down through a tube. This is not sexual in any way, and if you think it’s sexual YOU ARE THE PERVERT.”
Even so, plenty of his followers have taken the warning on board, with one writing, “Thanks for the heads up because I just started letting my kids watch it since it’s PG13 and not R. Why is it not rated R?!”
Posobiec has since posted a series of follow-up tweets, including one that features a Grok response: “The creators of Alien have described the facehugger scene – which the Stranger Things moment homages – as a depiction of rape.
“Writer Dan O’bannon called it ‘homosexual oral rape’ and H.R. Giger based designs on fear of sexual violation.”
He shared this alongside the word, “Oh.” The debate has continued in the comments section, with one pointing out, “This is the creators of Alien discussing Alien…”
“Having to go two layers of meta referencing down to make it about rape is not the slam dunk you think it is,” said another. The creators just reference 80s sci-fi/horror films in general. There’s people out there actually trying to normalize pedophilia, no need to act like Ned Flanders about this.”
A third added, “This isn’t that Jack. Yes, that’s true on Alien. The scene in Stranger Things isn’t sexual, nobody is going to be impregnated, it’s about the underground and hive mind. You’re off on this and don’t understand the plot or the concepts. This is good vs evil stuff.”
Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 is streaming on Netflix now. Find out when the new episodes drop with our guide to the release schedule, and read about if anyone dies in Season 5 Volume 1, who Mr. Whatsit is, and whether Will has powers.
We’ve also listed the Season 5 soundtrack so far and ranked the best Stranger Things characters and best Stranger Things episodes.