DUBAI: Following intense backlash on social media, “Stranger Things” actor Noah Schnapp has attempted to backtrack on his stance on Israel’s ongoing war against Gaza, saying that his “thoughts and beliefs have been so far misconstrued.”
The video comes on the heels of “Stranger Things” going back into production for its final season, even as viewers across the world called for a boycott of the show following Schnapp’s earlier comments.
In a video posted on TikTok this week, the actor said he “just wanted to come on here super briefly to discuss everything that’s been going on online.”
“I feel like my thoughts and beliefs have been so far misconstrued from anything even close to what I believe and I wanted to just state from my heart how I feel. I only want peace and safety and security for all innocent people affected by this conflict,” Schnapp said.
“I’ve had many open discussions with friends from Palestine standing in background, and I think those are very important conversations to have and I’ve learned a lot. One of the takeaways I’ve had is that we all hope for the same things, that being those innocent people still being held hostage in Gaza to be returned to their families and equally hope for an end to the loss of innocent life in Palestine — so many of those people being women and children, and it’s horrible to see.”
When news of Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack broke out, Schnapp was quick to take to social media.
“As a Jewish American, I am afraid,” Schnapp wrote in the since-deleted post. “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.”
Schnapp was also seen in a video wearing stickers that read “Zionism is sexy” and “Hamas Is Isis,” and has also allegedly liked posts on Instagram mocking Palestinians and Muslims.
Schnapp visited Israel last year, with photographs of him at the Wailing Wall and other locations shared on social media.
“In love with this place,” he wrote in one Tel Aviv photo.
In his latest TikTok video, Schnapp went on to say, “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 continued, “And I hope for 2024 online to see people be a little more understanding and compassionate and recognize that we’re all human, regardless of our race, of our ethnicity, of our background, of our country of birth, of our sexuality, of anything. 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.”
