Adam Brody plays Rabbi Noah Roklov on Netflix’s“Nobody Wants This.”But it’s his real-life words that just sparked a feud with the show’s own former rabbi consultant. Brody told GQ he considers Israel’s attack on Gaza a genocide, adding,“Put me down as thinking it’s a genocide. Put me down as wanting a free Palestine.”Within days, Rabbi Steve Leder, who served as a technical consultant on Season 1, posted a video calling Brody an“ignorant Jew”and saying there is no genocide in Gaza. Leder also said,“If you know nothing about something, you should say nothing about it.”Neither Brody nor his rep has responded to the criticism yet.
The reason this one stings is the connection. Leder wasn’t just any commentator. The show brought him in to make sure its rabbi portrayal rang true. So the guy who helped build the world now says the guy who leads it is getting it wrong. It’s also part of a bigger pattern. Macklemore delivered a“Free Palestine”speech and was dropped from Ed Sheeran’s tour over it. Celebrity stances on this conflict keep colliding with real consequences.
Wherever you land on this, one thing is clear: the Israel-Gaza debate is now fully embedded in pop culture, and the people making our favorite shows are right in the middle of it. Brody hasn’t said anything since, and honestly, that silence might be the loudest move of all.
Do you think celebrities should speak up on political issues, or keep it private? Sound off in the comments.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.