Who is Butcher Billy? Stranger Things Artist Faces Online Backlash Over Holly Wheeler Artwork

Artist Butcher Billy, an official illustrator and graphic designer for Stranger Things, has found himself at the center of an online controversy following an artwork featuring Holly Wheeler, played by child actress Nell Fisher, 14.

Billy shared the illustration on December 5, depicting Holly’s terrified face with blood splattered across it. A caption on the poster read, “Vecna told me this would happen, he showed me.” The artwork referenced Episode 2 of Season 5, titled “The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler”, and portrayed Holly’s fear after a Demogorgon attacked her mother, Karen Wheeler, causing her to collapse.

The controversy began when an X user, @dollat325, commented under the artwork with a lewd remark:

“They even got her DS‘s in this image…perfect lol”*

In response, Billy shared a GIF from Tom and Jerry, showing Tom in a suit bowing as if applauded. The exchange drew widespread attention, with fans questioning the illustrator’s intent and understanding of the comment.

A Reddit user, @peachgothlover, shared a screenshot of the viral conversation in the @popculturechat community on December 28. The user explained that the vulgar acronym in the comment refers to a sexual act and highlighted concerns over its use, given Holly’s age of 10 in the show. They also noted the possibility that Billy may not have understood the meaning of the acronym but suggested he should have refrained from replying publicly.

Fans of Stranger Things reacted strongly, interpreting Billy’s reply as a potential endorsement of the inappropriate comment. One X user even called on Netflix to address the issue.

The incident has sparked a wider discussion about artist responsibility, social media interactions, and protecting child actors from online harassment, while fans await a response from both Butcher Billy and the show’s producers.