A Stranger Things cast member has spoken out against rumours of a so-called “secret episode” after fans claimed the latest instalments of the Netflix series had been altered.

The second half of season 5 landed on the streaming platform on Boxing Day, setting up a final episode due for release on New Year’s Day.

Since the episodes dropped, some viewers have voiced disappointment, arguing that major story developments were missing. Confusion around the fate of a popular couple also prompted the show’s writers to clarify events shown on screen.

Speculation intensified after an anonymous document circulated online, alleging the episodes had been “tampered with”. The claims led to a Change.org petition calling for the release of “unseen footage”, which had attracted around 280,000 signatures by Monday morning.

Randy Havens, who plays Hawkins Middle School teacher Scott Clarke, addressed the rumours directly on Instagram.

Photo: Instagram

The petition’s creator argues that key scenes were removed, stating, “I believe [there] was more to the episodes and we didn’t see them either due to Netflix or the team of Stranger Things cutting them. This has been a long 10 years process and this is what we get.”

Supporters echoed the sentiment, with one writing, “We did not wait YEARS for a cut, sloppy season.” Another added: “It just feels soulless and we deserve to see how this story was truly supposed to end.”

The comparison to Zack Snyder’s Justice League references the 2021 director’s cut released after years of fan campaigning. However, creators Matt and Ross Duffer have previously stressed that Stranger Things is not aiming for a radical overhaul.

Matt Duffer has said the finale is designed to feel “inevitable” and “satisfying”, rather than shocking.