Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp chose to address the backlash he faced over his comments about the Israel-Hamas war because he ‘wanted to set the story straight’ after receiving threats online, insiders have claimed.
Schnapp, 19, who is Jewish, was slammed for showing off ‘Zionism is sexy’ stickers in November, just one month after he declared: ‘You either stand with Israel or you stand with terrorism.’
After months of furor, the actor finally broke his silence on TikTok on Tuesday, telling fans that his ‘thoughts and beliefs’ had been ‘misconstrued from anything even close to what I believe,’ before insisting he only wants ‘peace and safety for innocent people.’
Despite the widespread assumption from critics that the apology had been forced by Netflix, a source told DailyMail.com that there was ‘zero pressure’ from the show’s cast or producers on the Will Byers actor to speak out.
‘His latest apology wasn’t anything forced on him from castmates, the show or producers, or even Netflix,’ the insider stated. ‘People close to him have talked to him about it – but there was zero pressure put on him to do anything specific or take down any videos, or comments on the subject.’
Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp decided to address the backlash he faced over his comments regarding the Israel-Hamas war because he ‘wanted to set the story straight’
The source stressed: ‘Noah, whether wrong or right, puts his heart out in everything he says and does.
‘He just saw the uproar it brought online, and he got scared. The things people were saying to him online or threatening him just got really real, really fast and he wanted to set the story straight because he never anticipated it would get to this point at any time.’
The insider claimed that the actor had learned a ‘valuable lesson’ from the situation and was hoping to move forward to a place of more ‘positivity.’
‘He sees what it has done and if he can now do anything to make people feel more at ease, that is his ultimate goal,’ the source continued.
‘He learned a valuable lesson and will make sure to choose what he does and says publicly with a little more care and consideration. He hopes the apology is a turning point to more positivity.’
A representative for Schnapp declined to comment.
In a video shared with his 32 million TikTok followers, Schnapp stated: ‘I only want peace and safety and security for all innocent people affected by this conflict.
‘I’ve had many open conversations with friends with a Palestinian background and I think they are very important conversations to have and I’ve learned a lot.’
He continued: ‘One of the takeaways I’ve had is that we all hope for the same things – that being those innocent people being held hostage in Gaza to be returned to their families and equally hope for the end to the war and the loss of innocent life in Palestine – so many of those people being women and children.
Schnapp, 19, who is Jewish, had been slammed for showing off stickers saying ‘Zionism is sexy’ in November
One month prior, the star had declared ‘you either stand with Israel or you stand with terrorism’ – which was seen as condoning Israel’s violent siege of Gaza
‘And I think anyone with any ounce of humanity would hope for an end to the hostilities on both sides. I stand against any killing of any innocent people.’
Referring to the criticism he has faced in recent months, Schnapp said: ‘I hope for 2024 that I will see people be a little more understanding and compassionate [online] and recognize that we are all human… we should stand together for humanity and for peace.’
Schnapp’s Stranger Things’ co-star Brett Gelman spoke out in his defense and told TMZ that that the views the young actor had shared did not warrant an apology.
The actor, who played Murray Bauman in the Netflix hit, went on to argue that anyone who is not pro-Israel is consciously or subconsciously being anti-Semitic.
Fans had branded Schnapp ‘sick and twisted’ and urged viewers to boycott the upcoming fifth and final season of Stranger Things, which started production on January 8 in Atlanta, after he caused outrage with his initial comments and posts.
One fan wrote: ‘Damn killing innocent civilians is sexy. Stripping off people from basic necessities is sexy. Being the reason why people are displaced from their homes is sexy.’
Another commented: ‘How is he not getting fired for spreading hate.’
A third wrote: ‘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’.
‘War crimes are sexy?’ one fan asked, while another wrote: ‘The levels of evil this is.’
One fan fumed: ‘He’s handing out stickers whilst Palestinians are being blown up. Yeah Stranger Things is definitely cancelled in this household’.
‘Well get out of your cushy LA pad, give up your career and go live in Israel then if you love Palestinian genocide sooo badly,’ another stated.
The actor addressed the backlash on TikTok on Tuesday, insisting that his ‘thoughts and beliefs have been so far misconstrued from anything even close to what I believe’
A source explained exclusively to DailyMail.com that the Will Byers actor had ‘zero pressure’ to speak out from the show’s cast or producers – the cast reunited to film season five this month
In the full October 11 post, Schnapp wrote: ‘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.
‘I, like others, want peace for both Palestinians and Israelis. Let’s stop the rhetoric and choosing sides. Instead we must recognize that we are all on the side of the fight against terrorism. Choose humanity over violence.
‘I just reposted a beautiful picture of a young innocent girl whose life was taken by Hamas at a music festival. I was met with comments reading “no one cares free Palestine” and “She deserves that, and every Israeli terrorist deserves that – Free Palestine”.
‘I am outraged by the justification and celebration of the death of a young girls life. Have people lost their minds??? STOP!’
‘This is one example of many posts, rallies, and petitions being signed attempting to justify the brutality against these innocent Israeli people,’ he continued. ‘You don’t have to be Jewish, you don’t have to be Israeli, you just have to have empathy and common sense to know that THIS is wrong.’
‘I hope we can agree that Hamas are a recognized terrorist organization: they don’t represent the Palestinian people when they value murdering Israelis more than protecting their own.
Israeli soldiers operate in the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas on Tuesday, with the conflict now in its fourth month
The war has driven nearly all Gazans from their homes and caused a humanitarian crisis, with food, fuel and medical supplies running low – a Palestinian woman pictured on January 16
Gaza health authorities say that Israeli bombing has led to 24,285 deaths, with thousands more bodies feared lost in the rubble – a wounded Palestinian child pictured on January 15
‘You either stand with Israel or you stand with terrorism. It shouldn’t be a difficult choice. Shame on you.’
‘While you justify the murders and torture of our loved ones, we will hope and pray for safety, justice, liberation, and self determination in Palestine,’ he finished, addressing his pro-violence commenters.
Israel launched the war to eradicate Hamas after militants stormed across the border fence on October 7, killing 1,200 people and capturing 240 hostages.
The war has driven nearly all Gazans from their homes, some several times, and caused a humanitarian crisis, with food, fuel and medical supplies running low.
Gaza health authorities have reported that Israeli bombing, now in its fourth month, has led to 24,285 deaths, with thousands more bodies feared lost in the rubble.
The mounting death toll in Gaza coupled with Israel’s road blocks to aid for trapped civilians have sparked wide near-constant protests across the US.