Stranger Things fans call for Season 5 boycott after star backs Noah Schnapp
NetflixThe turmoil surrounding Stranger Things Season 5 intensifies, as another cast member has publicly supported Noah Schnapp for his controversial Israel/Gaza comments – leading fans to call for a boycott of the final season.
Stranger Things Season 5 will bring an end to the beloved Netflix series, with the main characters set to face off against Vecna for the final time.
However, backlash away from the show has made fans less excited; more specifically, when Noah Schnapp made headlines for laughing around stickers that said “Zionism is sexy” and “Hamas is ISIS” amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
In a recent development, Schnapp addressed the controversy, believing that his “beliefs” had been “misconstrued” by the media. Now, one of his co-stars has come to the actor’s defence, arguing that there’s no need for apology – and it’s reignited calls for a boycott of Season 5.
Noah Schnapp supported by Stranger Things co-star Brett Gelman
Following the release of the video, Stranger Things actor Brett Gelman TMZ that he “saw nothing wrong” with Schnapp’s views or the video that sparked backlash against him.
In the recent video, Schnapp said his comments on the Israel-Hamas conflict were “misconstrued” and that he’s “learned a lot” from “open discussions with friends from Palestinian background.”
“I think anyone with any ounce of humanity would hope for an end to the hostility on both sides. I stand against any killing of any innocent people, and I hope you guys all do too. And I just hope to one day see those two groups be able to live harmoniously together in that region,” he added.
Gelman, who plays Murray Baum, said he hadn’t “read the apology” and didn’t know “if he’s walking back” anything he’d said.
“I saw nothing wrong with the original thing that he said,” he explained, specifically noting the stickers and how he thinks Hamas is a terrorist organization. “Zionism is the belief that Israel should exist, and that’s sexy to me too,” Gelman added.
He told TMZ that anyone who is not pro-Israel is “consciously or subconsciously” being anti-Semitic. “I am for the Israeli people, and I do believe Israel has the right to defend itself,” he said.
The actor also conceded he didn’t know “the ins and outs” of the military, and that he hoped there wasn’t “unnecessary” action that resulted in “the deaths of innocent Palestinians… everybody wants peace.”
Fans call for a boycott of Stranger Things Season 5
Since the Schnapp controversy emerged, many fans have expressed their intent on boycotting Stranger Things Season 5 and called for others to do the same. Gelman’s recent comments ignited the fire once again.
One fan on X/Twitter commented, “This is why we wont watch stranger things lmao”
“Oop cancel the show. It’s done: we’re done. No more,” said another.
Another fan commented, “Let’s boycott Stranger Things, cancel the whole damn show.”
In November 2023, a report alleged that Netflix is “keeping an eye” on Schnapp’s behavior, but there’s not been any official statement from the streamer or Stranger Things’ bosses.
