Can Noah Schnapp's career survive? (2025)

Since Hamas launched a shock attack on Israel in October, sparking a war that has left thousands dead, several celebrities have faced backlash for speaking out about the conflict.

However, few have sparked as much controversy as Noah Schnapp. The Jewish-American actor has hit headlines repeatedly in recent months for his remarks on the Israel-Hamas war, leading to cancelation calls and fans threatening to boycott the upcoming fifth season of Stranger Things.

The 19-year-old has starred as Will Byers in the sci-fi smash hit since 2016, with some fans refusing to watch the show unless Schnapp is fired or written out. Nevertheless, the backlash may just be a blip in the actor's career, according to crisis communications experts.

Evan Nierman is the CEO and founder of PR firm Red Banyan and the author of The Cancel Culture Curse: From Rage to Redemption in a World Gone Mad.

"Schnapp has not been 'canceled,' nor will he," Nierman told Newsweek. "While many are taking him to task, there are also others who agree with the support he has shown for Israel, and he's not the first celebrity to do so."

Newsweek has reached out to Noah Schnapp for comment via email.

What Did Noah Schnapp Say About the Israel-Hamas War?

On October 7, the Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking another 250 as hostages.

Israel declared war on Hamas, firing airstrikes into the neighboring Gaza Strip, where the group is based. Supplies of food, energy, fuel and medicine into the area were suspended before a ground offensive was launched in late October.

As of February 15, over 28,000 people in Gaza have been killed, the Associated Press reports, with a further 68,000 injured, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

However, the conflict between Israel and Palestinians is long-standing, adding increased tensions amongst advocates of both groups. Whether supporting Israel, championing Palestinians in Gaza, or attempting to remain neutral, famous faces have been causing uproar with their comments.

Schnapp first came under fire a few days after the October 7 attacks. The 19-year-old shared a statement on Instagram, in which he expressed sorrow for both Israeli and Palestinian civilians caught up in the war.

However, the line "You either stand with Israel or you stand with terrorism" caused chaos, along with Schnapp's terse replies to pro-Palestinian users in the comment section.

'Zionism is Sexy'

In November, the former child star endured further backlash after posing with a sticker that read "Zionism is sexy." Britannica defines Zionism as a Jewish national movement dedicated to the "creation and support of a Jewish national state in Palestine."

In less than a month, Schnapp lost 490,000 Instagram followers, along with more than 11,000 subscribers on X, the social network formerly known as Twitter.

"This issue is a powder keg of emotions, meaning that anyone regardless of their age, gender, background or political views, will face attacks simply for having the courage to speak about the topic," Nierman said.

"The reality is we are witnessing free speech at work, with some celebrities sharing their opinions and receiving support and criticism in response."

Stranger Things Faces Boycott Calls

After Schnapp liked a video by Israeli actress Noa Tishby, which some people accused of being Islamophobic, Stranger Things began facing boycott threats.

Season Four of Stranger Things was the most-streamed TV show in the U.S. during 2022. The long-awaited final season began filming in January, following a 10-month hiatus caused by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

However, several fans have denounced the production on social media, refusing to watch the next season unless Schnapp is fired or written out.

Despite the commotion, Professor Charisse L'Pree, an Associate Professor of Communications at Syracuse University, agrees that Schnapp is unlikely to suffer any long-term career consequences.

"Given the deeply polarized social environment in which we live, being boycotted by one group simply serves as a badge of honor for the opposing group," she told Newsweek.

"Time and time again, we see instances where people are dragged for their social or political beliefs, only to find success with customers and audiences on the other side of the spectrum."

However, Stacy Cohen, President and CEO of Co-Communications, thinks Schnapp's social media activity may have caused long-term damage to his career.

"The damage extends beyond mere criticism," Cohen told Newsweek. "It threatens Noah's professional relationships, endorsements, and future opportunities.

"Trust, once shattered, is challenging to restore and his credibility and integrity have been tarnished."

Noah Schnapp Has Apologized for his Israel-Hamas Comments on TikTok

Schnapp addressed the backlash in January. In a TikTok video, the Bridge of Spies star said his beliefs about the conflict had been "misconstrued," and that he wanted "peace and safety" for civilians on both sides of the war.

"I wanted to just state from my heart how I feel," Schnapp said. "I've had many open discussions with friends from Palesti—Palestinian background and I think those are very important conversations to have and I've learned a lot."

He continued: "We are all human and we're all the same and we should all love each other for that and support each other and stand together. And stand together for humanity and for peace."

Although many people praised Schnapp's willingness to self-reflect and grow, others slammed his response, accusing the former child star of back-tracking to maintain his role on Stranger Things.

However, Nierman believes the video went a long way in calming the furor surrounding Schnapp.

"Calling for peaceful coexistence between Israel and the Palestinians did well to address any short-term damage he may have faced," he explained.

"The most important thing to do in his position is to continue owning the narrative around his support for Israel.

"He is a young Jewish man growing up in a time where antisemitism is running rampant, and he is using his platform and influence to speak out against it."

Cohen agrees that this is a prime opportunity for Schnapp to redefine his image, but a career recovery would require further "humility, introspection, and concerted effort."

Although Schnapp's young age may help some critics to forgive and forget, Cohen said it cannot "absolve accountability for harmful behavior."

"Regardless of his youth, he must face the consequences of his actions and actively work towards redemption," she said.

Will Noah Schnapp Be Fired From Stranger Things?

A cast photo shared by Netflix in January confirmed that Schnapp will appear in Stranger Things' Season Five.

Nierman doubts that the controversy surrounding Schnapp will dent the show's popularity.

"The show has a die-hard fanbase and has generated enough suspense and interest that most of its audience wants to see how it ends," he said.

However, Cohen said that online boycotts do have real-world consequences, such as the boycott of Bud Light. Following conservative outrage over its partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney in April 2023, the beer brand lost $395 million in just four months, with sales remaining low throughout the year.

"If viewers choose to boycott the show en masse, it could result in a significant decline in ratings, advertising revenue, and overall profitability," she said.

"Brands partner with other brands based on positive reputations—not accusations of insensitivity and racism."

Unlike his co-stars Millie Bobby Brown, Sadie Sink, Finn Wolfhard and Caleb McLaughlin, Schnapp currently has no upcoming projects besides Stranger Things final season, according to IMDB.

However, Schnapp has always stuck to a smaller workload than other cast members, despite winning multiple awards for his performances.

Schnapp is also far from the only star currently battling public outcry over the Israel-Hamas war.

Jewish-American comedian Amy Schumer sparked fierce backlash in October over her posts about the conflict, with her comments leading to public fallouts with Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., and Black-Filipino actress Asia Jackson.

Susan Sarandon was dropped by her talent agency in November after she was accused of making antisemitic comments at a pro-Palestinian rally in New York, while actress Melissa Barrera was dropped from the Scream franchise after accusing Israel of genocide on social media.

Nierman warns that any celebrity discussing hot-button issues publicly should expect a response.

"On social media the default is to outrage and acrimony," he said. "So anyone weighing in on the Israel-Hamas war should expect vigorous blowback."