Instagram.com/noahschnapp
Noah Schnapp, a young actor who portrays Will Byers in the spooky series ‘Stranger Things,’ was one of the guests of Jimmy Fallon‘s ‘The Tonight Show,’ during which a clip of the actor’s bouncing on beds habit was presented in a humorous way. Although this pure fun moment, was the origin of a big online debate, where nostalgia was mixed with harsh criticism of the actor’s opinion on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
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A video montage shown on Jimmy Fallon’s show depicts a contrast between Noah Schnapp’s 2019 sofa jump and a recent, similar incident. The phrase ‘Some things never change’ was actually a tender farewell to the actor’s ever-lasting youthful energy. The clip is straightforward, but the audience reaction was far from it.
The reactions of the audience were immediately categorized into various groups. While some considered the video to be adorably cute. One person commented with the phrase, ‘In 2019, look at his adorable butt,’ while others just observed, ‘He is having a ball like a kid…. Boys are the same.’ In this group the young actor being a bit naughty was likened to everyone else—he just happened to be getting some public attention because he was growing up with us.
Conversely, a large section of the audience quickly shifted the discussion from the jumping to the much heavier topic. Noah Schnapp has been right in the midst of the debate for months due to his public comment on the Gaza conflict, which has been seen by many as taking a pro-Israel stance. This remark served as the backdrop for many of the responses. ‘Everyone thinking this is cute not realizing he’s imagining he’s crushing a Palestinian infant with his tailbone,’ wrote one user, portraying a terrible and politically charged scenario that surely did not assist the discussion. Another asked, ‘Why is he still allowed to be on TV?’ taking a very direct stand.
As the discussion continued, it grew more and more intense. When one user said that the detractors just ‘hate him,’ others quickly came in to clarify the matter. ‘nah I just hate genocide,’ replied one person. ‘no we just hate zi0nists,’ added another, thus making it clear that their dissatisfaction was based on political ideology rather than personally with the actor. This led to a discussion in which the video just served as an excuse for recapitulating a much larger and more contentious geopolitical argument. Even attempts to discuss the character of the actor in ‘Stranger Things’ were overwhelmed. A question about the character’s sexuality on and off the show was answered with facts by another user before the thread probably got back to the predominant political issue once again.
While the political tempest was raging, there were still some replies that concentrated on the physical aspect of the clip and resorted to more adult, sometimes vulgar, humor. ‘Dudes bouncing like a bottom in heat,’ one person joked. Another quipped, ‘Gays will do anything but sit in a chair properly.’ These comments completely ignored the political aspect, however, they did bring in an element of coarseness that illustrated how an innocuous seven-second clip could be interpreted in extremely varied ways: a nostalgic view of childhood, political protest, or just a meme.
Some things never change 🥺 #StrangerThingsOnFallon #FallonTonight pic.twitter.com/LK5brbTN0D
— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) December 5, 2025
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The entire incident highlights a universal truth for celebrities, particularly the young ones. What seemed like a non-offensive talk show appearance, in fact, turned out not to be just a promotion stop. It has become a flashpoint, a blank canvas for the internet to paint with every ongoing controversy surrounding that person. In the case of Noah Schnapp, a clip about not changing became undeniable proof of how much has changed—turning a light-hearted moment of entertainment into a battlefield where opinions on fame, identity and global conflict collided. Apparently, the bounce turned out to be a thud that no one expected would be this heavy. This show has also featured guests like Lea Michele and segments with Charlie Puth. In other entertainment news, Ben Stiller recently made a memorable appearance, and co-star Joe Keery has shared thoughts on the future of Stranger Things.
This story originally appeared on Celebrityinsider
