Why Xavier Thorpe actor Percy Hynes White is absent from Wednesday Season 2 | Credit: Netflix
As Wednesday Season 2 hits Netflix, fans have been quick to notice a key cast member missing from the lineup — Percy Hynes White, who played Xavier Thorpe, Wednesday Addams’ complicated love interest in Season 1. Despite being heavily featured in the first season’s storyline and teasers, Percy is nowhere to be seen in the new batch of episodes. Netflix has made no official mention of his absence in trailers or press releases, leaving fans wondering why one of the show’s central characters has been written out.
Percy played the role of Xavier, Wednesday’s potential romantic interest, in Wednesday | Credit: Netflix
In Wednesday Season 1, Percy Hynes White portrayed Xavier Thorpe, a brooding, artistic Nevermore Academy student with the ability to bring his drawings to life. Xavier was positioned as a possible love interest for Wednesday Addams, creating a love triangle with Tyler Galpin, the seemingly sweet barista who turned out to be the deadly Hyde. While Wednesday remained emotionally guarded, Xavier’s concern for her safety and willingness to stand by her made him a fan favourite.
Xavier was an outcast who had the ability to bring his drawings to life | Credit: Netflix
He often found himself caught in Wednesday’s investigations and was even falsely accused of being Hyde at one point. Although their romance never quite bloomed fully, their chemistry added depth to Wednesday’s story, showing glimpses of vulnerability beneath her deadpan surface.
Percy Hynes White’s absence from Wednesday Season 2 follows a wave of controversy that surfaced in early 2023, when allegations of sexual misconduct against the actor appeared on social media. Although Percy publicly denied the claims and no legal action was taken, the situation caused significant backlash online.
In a now-deleted Instagram post, Percy called the allegations “false” and described them as a result of targeted online harassment. Still, the accusations generated enough online attention to impact his public image. Netflix has never issued an official statement regarding his removal from the show, and his departure was never formally announced. However, by late 2023, it became clear that Percy would not return for Season 2, and his name was quietly left out of promotional materials.
Percy’s role was written out from the show following sexual assault allegations against him | Credit: Netflix
Some fans speculated that the decision was made internally to avoid potential backlash and to protect the image of the series, especially given its young audience and highly publicised success. Others believe his character was simply written out to allow Wednesday to take a different direction, one that focuses less on romantic subplots and more on psychological growth and new mysteries — a creative shift Jenna Ortega herself advocated for as a producer.
Wednesday follows Wednesday Addams, the sharp-witted, deadpan daughter of the Addams family, as she joins Nevermore Academy — a school for outcasts with unusual abilities. While navigating teen life, psychic visions, and eerie classmates, Wednesday becomes entangled in solving a string of murders tied to her family’s past.
