Born in United States · Nationality American — Film / television / popular culture

Caleb McLaughlin

Documented profile covering 4 controversies, including “2017: controversy over improvised first kiss in Stranger Things with Sadie Sink” and “2022: McLaughlin reveals experiences of racism from Stranger Things fans”.

Are you concerned? Right of reply

Profile No. 1739 · Updated on 12 October 2026

Portrait of Caleb McLaughlin

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

4Documented controversies
8Sources
0Formal charge · all time
0Conviction

I. Documented controversies

01

2026-01

2026: SNL sketch about Lucas and Max's sex life criticised as misogynistic and compared by some to a rape joke

No legal proceedings

Appearing in a Saturday Night Live sketch with Finn Wolfhard and Gaten Matarazzo, McLaughlin played an adult version of Lucas joking that Max remained motionless in bed 'as if she were still in a coma'. The joke drew strong criticism from some fans, who considered it misogynistic, insensitive and, for some, suggestive of non-consensual sex.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

02

2024-01

2024: participation in fake American Dream biopic trailer for 21 Savage, subsequently revealed as promotional parody

No legal proceedings

McLaughlin played a younger version of 21 Savage in a highly produced trailer for American Dream: The 21 Savage Story, presented with a release date as though announcing a real film. 21 Savage subsequently explained that the project was a parody intended to accompany promotion of his album.

State of the evidence
Documented

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

03

2022-09

2022: McLaughlin reveals experiences of racism from Stranger Things fans

No legal proceedings

At a convention in Belgium, McLaughlin recounted that some fans had avoided his queue at conventions because he was Black and that he had long received less support than his white co-stars. He explained that this difference in treatment had affected him as a child.

State of the evidence
Documented

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

04

2017-11

2017: controversy over improvised first kiss in Stranger Things with Sadie Sink

No legal proceedings

The kiss between Lucas and Max in Stranger Things season two sparked controversy after the Duffer brothers said they had added it when Sadie Sink had expressed nervousness. McLaughlin, also a teenager, explained that he had been nervous too and that it was also his first kiss.

State of the evidence
Documented

Last verified: 13 September 2026

Add to this entry

II. Constellation of documented links

  • Linked profile (portrait or initials) — click to open it
  • Line width: number of documented references
  • Hover over or tap a line: controversies and sources

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

List of documented links (2)
  1. Finn Wolfhard2 documented references
  2. Sadie Sink2 documented references

III. Has something changed?

A new court decision, a missing source, a mistake? Tell us what should be updated: every request is read by the editorial team.

iPhone and iPad

Install Controversia

  1. Tap Share
  2. then Add to Home Screen

Tap Share, then Add to Home Screen.