Since his portrayal of Will Byers in Netflix’s Stranger Things, Noah Schnapp has become an international phenomenon. He spent his subsequent adolescent years in the spotlight, much like the other young cast members, having just entered his early teens at the time of Season 1 filming. Over his career, he has experienced some significant highs, such as his character’s acceptance of LGBTQ+ issues, which actually helped him accept his own sexuality. However, even at such a young age, the actor, 19, has been involved in controversy; the most recent of these is currently making headlines.
A recent statement by the Bridge of Spies actor regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict sparked a flurry of debate. While some have demanded an apology, his Stranger Things co-star, Brett Gelman, has stepped forward to defend Schnapp’s views and probably advocate for free speech. As one might expect, this does not go over well with fans.
Brett Gelman is Taking A Stand For His Stranger Things Co-Star’s Controversial Views
Stranger Things is currently embroiled in yet another fiasco as the creators decided against including a beloved character in season 5. Noah Schnapp made headlines for laughing at stickers that said, “Hamas is ISIS” and “Zionism is sexy”. This backlash against the Netflix show has made fans less enthusiastic.
It has now rekindled calls for a boycott of Season 5, as one of his co-stars has defended the actor, saying that an apology is unnecessary. Actor Brett Gelman of Stranger Things told TMZ that he “saw nothing wrong” with Schnapp’s opinions or the footage that caused criticism of him. The former, who plays private investigator and conspiracy theorist Murray Baum, stated he has not “read the apology” and does not know “if he is walking back” from his statements. He clarified:
“I saw nothing wrong with the original thing that he said. Zionism is the belief that Israel should exist, and that’s sexy to me too.”
According to him, anyone who does not support Israel is “consciously or subconsciously” anti-Semitic, as he stated to TMZ, further adding:
“I am for the Israeli people, and I do believe Israel has the right to defend itself.”
Still, the news infuriated internet users as soon as it was posted on X; netizens bashed Gelman in the post’s comment section.
Netizens Troll Brett Gelman For His Recent Comments on ‘Zionism’
Many Stranger Things fans have declared their intention to boycott Season 5 and urged others to follow suit since the Noah Schnapp controversy surfaced. This flared up again after Brett Gelman’s latest remarks. The latter donned the role of Murray Bauman in the second, third, and fourth seasons of the show. Schnapp, on the other hand, has been in Stranger Things since its debut in 2016.
Social media platforms often encourage knee-jerk reactions. And it seems that some fans have found an amusing connection between Gelman’s physical appearance and his stance on this issue.
Let’s see how fans are reacting on X:
And that’s why he’s balding
— Hussi (@hussi_maraj) January 17, 2024
and that’s why he is losing hair by the second
— 𝗕𝗔𝗘𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗞 (@BAEM0NPINK) January 17, 2024
Brett Gelman is somehow even more annoying than Noah Schnapp pic.twitter.com/2JK6e3fE0x
— ً (@tylerduran21) January 17, 2024
This is sick. Being that ur a full grown adult and seeing what’s happening with innocent lives out there, you still choose to turn a blind eye and support the wrongdoers.
— joey (@Fan_FlickOn) January 17, 2024
Another reason to boycott Stranger Things, in case you actually were gullible enough to accept Noah's apology
— dystainak (@dystainak) January 17, 2024
Gelman’s candid admission of solidarity with Schnapp’s opinions raises concerns regarding potential consequences. Will this controversy hurt the show’s chances of survival in an era where cancel culture is rife? Could it potentially result in the cancellation of Stranger Things? The show’s fate remains uncertain.
Season 5 filming has already commenced. Although the show’s release date is unknown, it is anticipated to arrive on streaming services in 2025.
You can stream the other four seasons of Stranger Things on Netflix.
