The Stranger Things fandom has only grown since the show’s debut in 2016, and fans show tons of love for the show’s ensemble cast. But not every cast member basks in the glow of that adoration. Caleb McLaughlin, who plays Lucas Sinclair — one of few Black kids on the Netflix hit show — is calling out the racism and bigotry embedded in the fandom, BuzzFeed reports.

McLaughlin was 14 years old when Stranger Things Season One premiered. Now he’s 20 years old, and at Heroes Comic Con in Belgium he discussed his experience finding fame at such a young age while starring in one of Netflix’s most successful original series.

The actor shared that he learned quickly that the fandom devalues him because he’s Black. Most fans don’t even want to meet him when the cast has meet-and-greets.

“My very first Comic-Con, some people didn’t stand in my line because I was Black,” Caleb explained during a live Q&A. “Some people told me: ‘Oh, I didn’t want to be in line because you were mean to Eleven.’ Even now some people don’t follow me or don’t support me because I’m Black.”

McLaughlin said the treatment is even worse abroad.

“Sometimes overseas, you’ll feel the racism,” he went on. “You’ll feel the bigotry, and sometimes it’s hard to talk about and for people to understand.”

“Why am I the least favorite? The least amount of followers?” McLaughlin questioned. “I’m on the same show as everybody from Season One.”

The 20-year-old shared that his parents had to sit him down at the dawn of his career and explain the realities of being a Black kid on a predominantly white show. He said he remembers that the news baffled him.

“My parents had to be like: ‘It’s a sad truth, but it’s because you’re the Black child on the show,’” Caleb remembered. “Wow, that’s crazy. Because I was born with this beautiful chocolate skin I’m not loved?”

The fandom’s disdain for McLaughlin because of his Blackness is evident on social media too.

The 20-year-old has 15.4 million followers on Instagram — way less than his white costars. Finn Wolfhard has 26.3 million, Noah Schnapp has 27.6 million, Gaten Matarazzo has 18.7 million and Millie Bobby Brown has a whopping 58.5 million.

Sadie Sink and Maya Hawke, who joined the show in its third season, have 24.9 million followers and 10.4 million followers, respectively.

Priah Ferguson, who plays McLaughlin’s sister on the show since Season One, also has significantly fewer followers, with just 4.8 million.

McLaughlin’s experiences with the Stranger Things fandom have inspired him to create positivity and uplifting spaces online, according to BuzzFeed News.

“That’s why, with my platform, I’m going to spread positivity and love because I’m not giving hate back to people who are giving hate to me,” he said.

Caleb McLaughlinNetflixNetflix Seriesracism in AmericaStranger Things