Noah Schnapp Suffers Big Blow After 'Zionism is Sexy' Video

Noah Schnapp is facing cancellation calls for the second time in recent weeks over his support for Israel, hemorrhaging followers on social media.

An initial statement by the Jewish American actor on the Israel-Hamas conflict—which included the words "You either stand with Israel or you stand with terrorism"—caused furore.

On Monday the 19-year-old was blasted for a second time after posing with stickers that read "Zionism is Sexy" and "Hamas is ISIS" on social media.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines Zionism as "an international movement originally for the establishment of a Jewish national or religious community in Palestine and later for the support of modern Israel."

Noah Schnapp in August 2023
Noah Schnapp is seen in Hollywood, California, on August 10, 2023. The "Stranger Things" star's remarks on the Israel-Hamas conflict have proved controversial. Rodin Eckenroth/Filmmagic

The posts have led to the Stranger Things star losing fans on social media. According to analytics website Social Blade, Schnapp has lost over 490,000 Instagram followers in just 30 days, along with more than 11,000 on X, the social network formerly known as Twitter.

Newsweek has reached out to Schnapp for comment via email.

On October 7, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, with militant fighters breaking through the perimeter fence between Southern Israel and the Gaza Strip, as well as flying in by paraglider and arriving by sea. At least 1,200 Israelis were killed in the initial attacks, with Hamas taking 240 people as hostages, according the Associated Press.

Israel subsequently launched airstrikes on Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared his country "at war" and suspended food, medicine, fuel and energy supplies to Gaza.

Roughly two-thirds of the Gaza Strip's 2.3 million population have fled their homes to avoid fighting, with over 11,000 Palestinians killed as of November 15, according to the AP.

On October 11, Schnapp shared a statement to Instagram which read: "As a Jewish American, I am afraid. Afraid for my brothers and sisters in Israel, who have been senselessly attacked by Hamas.

"I am truly heartbroken to see the brutal murders of innocent children, women and soldiers fighting to defend themselves."

However, his statement also included the line, "You either stand with Israel or you stand with terrorism," causing uproar.

In response to Schnapp's support of Israel, some fans have threatened to boycott Stranger Things—in which the teen stars as Will Byers—while actor John Cusack reshared posts slamming Schnapp.

The Bridge of Spies actor isn't the only famous face to cause controversy with his comments on the Israel-Hamas conflict, with supporters of both Israel and Palestinians sparking backlash and losing followers on social media.

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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer


Sophie is a Newsweek Pop Culture and Entertainment Reporter based in Lincoln, UK. Her focus is reporting on film and ... Read more

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