Walker Scobell, the star of the Disney+ series Percy Jackson and the Olympians, has announced he is skipping his own prom because fans have been sending death threats to his classmates. The young actor addressed the issue directly with his followers on Instagram, making it clear that the situation had become serious enough to affect his personal life.
In his post, Scobell asked fans to stop harassing teenage girls who are associated with him. He explained that people are targeting these girls based on how close they live to him, likely assuming some kind of romantic connection. The fact that completely uninvolved teenagers are receiving death threats simply for living near a celebrity is deeply troubling.
According to Dexerto, Scobell wrote, “Just to let everyone know, I will not be attending prom. Please stop sending death threats to EVERY teenage girl who could remotely be associated with me based on their proximity to where I live.” He added, “Maybe also just stop sending death threats in general. That’s just not cool. Kinda weird I have to say this.”
A teenage actor should not have to choose between his safety and his prom
Scobell has 2.2 million followers on Instagram, largely due to his lead role in Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which is based on the novels by Rick Riordan. He plays the lead character Percy Jackson, a teenager who discovers he is the son of a Greek god. He also gained recognition for his role in the Netflix film The Adam Project, where he starred alongside Ryan Reynolds.
The show has been successful so far, having adapted the first two books, The Lightning Thief and The Sea of Monsters. For those who want to read the Percy Jackson series in the right order, the third installment is The Titan’s Curse, which the upcoming third season is expected to be based on in 2026. The series has built a large and passionate fanbase since the books were first published, and the Disney+ adaptation has only grown that audience further.
Following his statement, the Disney+ UK account shared an Instagram post focused on the series’ theme of friendship. The caption read, “Friendship is stronger than any prophecy,” and featured clips of Scobell as Percy, saying lines such as, “We take care of each other,” and, “When you talk about stuff, it gets less scary.” While the post did not directly mention the situation, many saw it as a show of support for Scobell during a difficult time.
Fans also showed support in the comments section. One user wrote, “Walker we support you!!! And we, the real fans, will make sure you and the whole cast is safe. If you see something weird or obsessive about the cast, report it immediately and without delay!” The response from genuine fans has been largely positive, with many calling out the toxic behavior and urging others to report any harassment they come across.
This is not the first time a young actor has faced this kind of obsessive behavior from a section of their fanbase. It is a well-known problem in the entertainment industry, where parasocial relationships can sometimes spiral into harassment and threats. New fans looking to follow the Percy Jackson books in order can get started with The Lightning Thief before the next season arrives.
Scobell is a teenager, and it is unfortunate that he has had to make a public statement just to protect the people around him, and miss a significant personal milestone because of it. No one, celebrity or not, should have to deal with this kind of behavior.
Published: Apr 13, 2026 12:00 pm