‘Stranger Things’ star breaks silence on ‘secret episode’ claims as 280,000 fans demand cut scenes

A cast member from Stranger Things has dismissed rumours that the show’s latest episodes were secretly altered, after an online petition calling for the release of “cut scenes” attracted more than 280,000 signatures.

The second half of season five arrived on Netflix on Boxing Day, paving the way for the series finale, which is due to be released on New Year’s Day.

Following the drop, some viewers expressed frustration online, with complaints ranging from a perceived lack of major developments to confusion surrounding the fate of a fan-favourite couple. The speculation intensified after an anonymous document circulated on social media, claiming the newly released episodes had been tampered with.

The claims prompted a Change.org petition urging Netflix to release what supporters described as “unseen footage”. As of Monday morning, the petition had been signed by around 280,000 people.

Actor Randy Havens, who plays Hawkins Middle School teacher Scott Clarke, addressed the rumours directly in a post shared to his Instagram story.

“There is no Snyder Cut of the show,” Havens wrote. “Please don’t believe everything some random person tells you on the internet.”

Despite the actor’s response, supporters of the petition continued to voice their disappointment. Some argued that scenes involving key characters had been removed, while others described the season as incomplete after years of anticipation.

The online discussion has drawn comparisons to Zack Snyder’s Justice League, the 2021 director’s cut released years after the original film, following sustained fan campaigning. That project emerged after director Zack Snyder stepped away from the original production during post-production.

The creators of Stranger Things, brothers Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer, have previously indicated that the final season was not designed to rely on shock twists or dramatic overhauls.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Matt Duffer said the show was not attempting to emulate the unpredictability of series such as Game of Thrones.

“There’s not going to be a Red Wedding situation,” he said. “Some things happen in the finale that are very surprising, but we’re not trying to shock or upset anyone. We want it to feel inevitable and satisfying rather than painful.”

The final episode of Stranger Things season five is set to stream on Netflix on New Year’s Day.