In a recent turn of events, Noah Schnapp, the 19-year-old actor known for his role in “Stranger Things,” found himself at the center of controversy over a video where he distributed stickers with slogans like “Zionism is sexy” and “Hamas is ISIS.” Despite Schnapp’s attempt to clarify his stance on TikTok, his co-star Brett Gelman has voiced his disagreement.
Schnapp’s TikTok video aimed to address the growing calls for cancellation by asserting that his views were “misconstrued.” However, Gelman, 47, came to Schnapp’s defense during a conversation with TMZ at the Los Angeles Airport. Gelman expressed that he doesn’t believe Schnapp’s perspective on the Israel-Hamas conflict warrants an apology.
Gelman openly stated his approval of the viral videos and pictures showing Schnapp distributing the controversial stickers. “I saw nothing wrong with the original thing that he said, I will say that,” Gelman remarked. He defended the notion of Zionism, defining it as the belief that Israel should exist, expressing that it is “sexy” to him as well.
The comedian supported Schnapp’s comparison between Hamas and the terrorist organization ISIS. Gelman went on to emphasize his belief that not supporting Israel implies a form of antisemitism. “I think that if you are not for Israel, you are either consciously or subconsciously engaging in antisemitism,” he asserted. Gelman clarified that his support extends to the Israeli people rather than every detail of the government, explicitly mentioning he is not for Netanyahu.
This controversy has ignited a broader conversation about the complexities surrounding views on the Israel-Hamas conflict, with Schnapp’s attempt to clarify met with both support and disagreement from within the entertainment industry. As discussions unfold, it remains to be seen how this incident will impact the actors and their standing within the public eye.