A number of Stranger Things fans are calling for a boycott of the series' long-anticipated fifth and final season after a video of Noah Schnapp engaging with pro-Zionist paraphernalia has gone viral across social media.
Noah Schnapp, who plays Will Byers on the critically-acclaimed Netflix series, recently made headlines after he appeared in a video smiling, laughing, and seemingly recording those surrounding him who held up stickers reading "Zionism Is Sexy" and “Hamas Is Isis.” The video was reposted on social media by news aggregation accounts like PopCrave on November 13.
As calls for a ceasefire in Israel's retaliatory bombarding of Gaza intensify, the video in question has been regarded as insensitive by many, and has led to fans of the show demanding Schnapp be removed from the cast and calling for a total boycott of the final season via intense, even virulent social media backlash.
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"The very least we can do is totally boycott the upcoming season of Stranger Things on Netflix. If Bella Hadid can lose modeling contracts merely for standing up for Palestine, Noah Schnapp should not be allowed to get away after wholeheartedly endorsing a genocide," one user alleged.
In 2022, Bella Hadid told The Rep podcast that her outspoken advocacy for Palestine has cost her both personally and professionally. “I had so many companies that stopped working with me,” Hadid said. “I have friends that completely dropped me.”
"Having all those resources to learn about the occupation, thousands of people literally pointing him to that direction, and this is what he answers with," someone else noted. "Stranger Things was one my favorite shows, too, but let's all boycott season 5," another person added after seeing the clip.
"He can promote Zionism without getting fired, but others can't call for a ceasefire or stand with Palestine without losing their jobs/getting dropped by brands," a fourth user said.
Like many other celebrities, Schnapp, who is Jewish, has been vocal about his support of Israel since the Hamas attack on October 7, which killed over 1,300 Israelis. Since Israel's assault on Gaza following the attack, the Gaza Health Ministry reports more than 11,000 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip.
As the casualties in Gaza continue to increase, more and more Jewish voices have started speaking out, with many concerned with what they see as a conflation of anti-Zionism and antisemitism. "We wish to disavow the widespread narrative that any criticism of Israel is inherently antisemitic," a group of over 1,800 Jewish writers and creatives stated in an open letter last week. "This insidious gagging of free speech is being used to justify Israel's ongoing military bombardment of Gaza and to silence criticism from the international community."
Following delays caused by the writers and actors strikes, the fifth and final season of Stranger Things is slated to begin production ASAP. Judging by teasers and clues shared by both the series creators and the actors, Will Byers's role will be significant in the upcoming season.
Teen Vogue has reached out to representatives of Schnapp for comment.
