Stranger Things Debate: Can You Love Will Byers and Hate Noah Schnapp?

July 15, 2025

Noah Schnapp is considered one of the standout stars of the hit Netflix series. But his political views have divided the Stranger Things fandom.

Schnapp got global fame for his role as Will Byers in Stranger Things. His performance, particularly in the second season, earned him critical acclaim and a global fan base. However, he sparked a controversy due to his political stance on the Palestinian conflict.

Noah Schnapp’s Israel-Palestine Controversy Explained

Noah Schnapp

The actor made headlines when he publicly expressed his support for Israel during the height of the conflict. Things escalated when he appeared in a video promoting stickers with slogans like “Zionism is Sexy.”

In response, the actor clarified his position, stating that he supports peace for all people and opposes hate of any kind. While some fans viewed this as a sincere apology, others dismissed it as a damage control PR stunt.

Unfortunately, Schnapp continues to face heavy criticism and online trolling. Even his friends like Finn Wolfhard and Joe Keery were slammed for hanging out with Schnapp.

Though most of his fans still stand by him. The debate has sparked a larger conversation about whether the fans can separate an actor from the character he portrays.

Can You Really Love Will Byers and Hate Noah Schnapp?

Stranger Things Debate: Can You Love Will Byers and Hate Noah Schnapp?

While the backlash against Noah Schnapp continues, it’s worth remembering that he’s a young actor who is still learning and growing. He has since clarified his stance, expressing a desire for peace and unity.

A social media user recently said, “You can’t like Will Byers if you hate Noah Schnapp.”

Hot take. You can't like Will if you hate Noah. Hating on noah literally goes against everything Will represents in the show and it's extremely hypocritical.
— Oli 🌟 (no.1 Will Byers supporter) (@Willbyersisbest) July 8, 2025

The comment sparked mixed reactions. Some users agreed that the support for the character should include the actor behind him and the controversy should be left behind. Others strongly disagreed, insisting that the fictional characters and real-life individuals must be treated separately.

Here are some of the most talked-about reactions:

“How is that going against what Will represents in the show? Not liking an actor because of what they believe doesn’t go against anything when it comes to the character and what they represent.”

“Ah yes… William Byers, a sensitive gay boy (and neurodivergent-coded for me because I’m autistic and related to him in many ways), represents Zionism and violence against Palestinian people. How did I never think of this before?”
“Will is a sweet boy who hates violence and always puts others first. Noah is an immature person who said being in favor of a genocide is sexy. Hating Noah aligns with everything Will stands for.”

“Will is a character. Noah is a person. I can dislike a person and still love a fictional character. Are you serious?”

Some more sarcastic reactions followed:

“Y’all help—I must’ve missed the part in Stranger Things where Will said to be kind to Zionists. What episode was that?”

“Yeah, because enjoying a silly fictional gay boy from the ’80s and supporting a real-life Zionist are totally the same thing.”
“Noah is a Zionist. That’s why Wil Wheaton comes to mind when I think of Will Byers.”

The original poster, however, stood by their comment and responded:

“I’m sorry for even daring to suggest that bullying a gay guy and sending him death threats over a mistake he’s apologized for multiple times isn’t what the show stands for. You’re right!! Bully those gays!! Continue spreading homophobic hate—just like Will Byers would want.”

Can fans separate Will Byers from Noah Schnapp? Let us know your opinion in the comments below.