Stranger Things “Cutgate” Petition Hits 140K: Fans Demand Release of Deleted Scenes Before 2026 Series Finale
HOLLYWOOD, CA — The Upside Down has officially spilled over into the real world. In a historic display of fan activism, a petition demanding the release of alleged deleted footage from Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2 has exploded to over 140,000 signatures in just 48 hours. The movement, now trending globally under the hashtag #Cutgate, has reached a fever pitch just days before the series finale is scheduled to drop on December 31, 2025.
The controversy centers on claims that Netflix executives “meddled” with the final edit of the season to maintain a TV-14 rating and shorter runtimes, effectively cutting out hours of significant character development and darker plotlines.
Inside the #Cutgate Controversy: What Really Happened to Volume 2?
Since Volume 2 premiered on Christmas Day 2025, the fandom has been divided. While many praised the high-octane action, a vocal group of viewers—primarily on Reddit and TikTok—began pointing out what they called “glaring plot holes” and “rushed emotional arcs.”
The “Cutgate” theory gained massive traction when a viral Google document, titled The Great Camazotz Cut of 2025, began circulating. The document cites alleged “insider” leaks suggesting that Netflix removed up to two hours of footage from Episodes 5, 6, and 7.
Alleged Cut Scenes Include:
- The Will & Mike “Basement Scene”: A deeply emotional one-on-one conversation between Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) and Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard) that allegedly provided more context for Will’s identity journey.
- Will Byers vs. Vecna: Scenes where Will confronts Henry Creel/Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) mentally, exploring the “scary images” Will mentions but are never shown on screen.
- Camazotz Sequences: Extended footage of Holly Wheeler in the Upside Down dimension of Camazotz, which fans argue was trimmed for time.
- The “Fake-Out Death”: A rumored sequence where Will appeared to succumb to his connection with the Mind Flayer before a last-minute rescue.
The “Byler” Debate: Is Homophobia at the Root of the Edits?
A significant portion of the #Cutgate movement is led by fans of the “Byler” ship (the romantic pairing of Will and Mike). These fans argue that the alleged cuts purposefully “sanitized” Will’s coming-out scene in Episode 7, The Bridge.
While Will did officially come out to his friends in the released version, critics argue the scene felt “forced” by Vecna’s influence rather than a moment of personal agency. On the flip side, some industry analysts suggest the backlash is a mix of genuine structural critique and the usual “ship wars” that plague large fandoms.
Technical Oversight: The “Under Armour” Mistake
Adding fuel to the fire, eagle-eyed fans spotted a major editing mistake in Volume 2. During an intense escape scene, Holly Wheeler is seen wearing an Under Armour logo on her sleeve—a brand that didn’t exist in the show’s 1987 setting.
“If they had time to obsessively cut two hours of character development, how did they miss a 21st-century logo in a period piece?” one top-rated Reddit comment asked. The mistake has led some to believe the final episodes were rushed through post-production to meet the December 25 release deadline.
The Series Finale: “The Rightside Up”
Netflix and the Duffer Brothers have remained silent regarding the petition, focusing instead on the upcoming series finale, “Chapter 8: The Rightside Up,” which is set to air on New Year’s Eve.
The finale is confirmed to be 2 hours and 8 minutes long, promising a “massive closure” to the decade-long saga. However, for the 140,000+ signers of the petition, no finale will be complete without the “missing pieces” of Volume 2.
How to Watch the Stranger Things Season 5 Finale
As the world prepares for the end of an era, here is everything you need to know about the finale release:
- Date: December 31, 2025
- Time: 5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET
- Platform: Netflix (Global)
- Runtime: 128 Minutes
Will you be watching the finale on New Year’s Eve? Would you like me to keep you updated on whether Netflix responds to the “Cutgate” demands, or would you like a deep dive into the current fan theories for how the show will end?
