Percy Hynes White announced on social media that he will not be returning for season 2 of Netflix’s hit series Wednesday. White expressed his excitement for the upcoming season and praised the show, which is set to premiere in 2025. The actor played the character Xavier Thorpe in season 1 and had a crush on Wednesday Addams, portrayed by Jenna Ortega, but has faced allegations of sexual assault since the show’s debut.
In early 2023, the hashtag #cancelpercy emerged on social media platforms after accusations of predatory behavior against White surfaced. The actor was accused of sending images to minors and using a racial slur during a performance. White denied the allegations, stating that they were false and condemning the portrayal of him as intolerant or neglectful of safety. The posts regarding the accusations have since been deleted.
In addition to White’s departure, Naomi J. Owaga, who played Yoko Tanaka in season 1, was also missing from Netflix’s season 2 cast unveiling. However, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzmán, Isaac Ordonez, and Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo will all be promoted to series regulars for the upcoming season. Meanwhile, new cast members including Steve Buscemi, Billie Piper, Evie Templeton, Owen Painter, and Noah Taylor have been announced.
During its first season, Wednesday received two Golden Globe nominations and several Emmy nominations. The show reimagines the character of Wednesday Addams from The Addams Family as she discovers her psychic abilities at a boarding school. White may not be returning to the series, but he and Jenna Ortega have another project together. They star in the upcoming film Winter Spring Summer or Fall, set to premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival. White has also recently completed work on the film Whistle alongside Nick Frost and Dafne Keen.