Walker Scobell, the young actor starring as Percy Jackson in Disney+'s hit adaptation, has publicly denounced disturbing behavior from overzealous fans. The 17-year-old took to Instagram to address death threats being sent to teenage girls rumored to be his potential prom dates—a situation that has forced him to clarify his attendance plans entirely.
"Just to let everyone know, I will not be attending prom," Scobell wrote in an Instagram Story on April 12. "Please stop sending death threats to EVERY teenage girl who could remotely be associated with me based on their proximity to where I live."
Scobell emphasized the unfairness of targeting the women in his life and their families with such extreme harassment. He added a broader plea to his followers: "Maybe also just stop sending death threats in general. That’s not cool. Kinda weird that I have to say this."
The actor, who was cast at age 13 alongside Aryan Simhardri and Leah Jeffries in the adaptation of Rick Riordan's beloved book series, has been candid about the rapid and overwhelming changes fame has brought. In a previous interview, he reflected on the immediate impact of the show's success.
"I knew it was Percy Jackson and if there were a lot of people that loved it just as much as I did then I thought, 'Yeah, maybe it would get pretty big,'" Scobell told USA Today last year. "But I didn’t think it would be this big so fast. It kind of just immediately became such a big thing and it started affecting my life right away."
He admitted that sudden recognition from fans can be disorienting, leaving him uncertain how to react. Despite the challenges, Scobell maintains that portraying the iconic demigod remains a dream role. "I love it every day," he said in a December interview, acknowledging the extraordinary opportunities while dismissing complaints about the pressures of fame.
Filming for the third season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians concluded in March, though a release date has not yet been announced. Scobell's public stance highlights the darker side of celebrity, as he calls for respect and basic decency from those who claim to be fans.