Adolescence creator slams backlash over young lead actor’s casting saying ‘it’s absurd’

THE creator of Adolescence has slammed backlash from viewers over the show's casting of its young lead actor after Netflix was accused of ‘race swapping'.

Fans of the griping and tragic drama have been left in awe of Owen Cooper‘s performance in the Netflix hit alongside Stephen Graham.

Portraying Jamie Miller – a young teen accused of murdering a schoolgirl – the role has catapulted Owen to instant fame.

Flying Eze recently revealed how he's already been booked for another acting gig with the BBC.

However, the 15-year-old was hit with backlash as people speculated on who his character was really based on.

Some had even accused Adolescence creator Jack Thorne of ‘race swapping' the lead role.

Hitting back though, he responded: “We're not making a point about race with this. We are making a point about masculinity.We're trying to get inside a problem.

“We're not saying this is one thing or another. We're saying this is about boys.”

He continued to the News Agents podcast: “They've claimed that Stephen [Graham] and I based it on a story and so they're saying that we race-swapped it, because we were basically here and then ended up there, and everything else, and nothing is further from the truth.”

Jack, who penned the four episodes which have amassed millions of viewers, insisted Jamie Miller is fictional.

He added: “I have told a lot of real-life stories in my time. I know the harm that can come when you take elements of a real-life story, and you put it on screen, and the people aren't expecting it.

“There is no part of this that's based on a true story, not one single part.”

Meanwhile, Adolescence broke streaming records for Netflix since its debut on the platform.

Figures by ratings body Barb show Adolescence has made history by becoming the first ever streaming show to top weekly ratings in the UK.

Latest stats reveal Adolescence has been watched by 6.45 million people in its first seven days.

By comparison,Fool Me Oncewas watched by 6.3 million people in its first week upon being released in January.