Controversial Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp mocked for sobbing on Winona Ryder's last day on set
- Noah, 21, opened up about his last moments with his on-screen mom on set
- The divisive actor's comments were ripped apart on social media
- READ MORE: Stranger Things star Caleb McLaughlin is unrecognizable
Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp has been mercilessly mocked after he confessed to 'sobbing' while saying goodbye to on-screen mom Winona Ryder on her last day on set.
The actor, 21, bid farewell to the cast of the sci-fi Netflix show earlier this year after they finished production on the fifth and final season, set to premiere with Volume 1 (episodes one to four) on November 26.
Noah, who has been embroiled in a series of controversies in recent years over comments he has made about the Israel-Hamas war, reflected on the emotional farewells that took place behind the scenes in a new interview.
Speaking to Variety, he said: 'I was at Winona's last day. I was like, "This is a work goodbye; we'll see each other soon." And then I was in her trailer, and I was like, "No! You can't leave!"
'I was holding on to her, just sobbing. I did not expect it to hit me so hard.'
While some sympathized with the two co-stars parting, many social media users poked fun at Noah's comments.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one said: 'She ain't ever seeing him again I'm crying.'
'He's crying because he knows he'll never get cast in anything worthwhile again,' another said.
Noah Schnapp has been reflecting on emotional goodbyes with his Stranger Things castmates
In a new interview, he said he 'sobbed' as he bid farewell to his on-screen mom Winona Ryder
A third continued: 'Classic "guy who realized his career is probably over after this" energy.'
'He's sobbing because he knows his a** is unemployed after this,' added a fourth.
Echoing a similar sentiment, another said: 'The best part of this show ending is that he'll most likely probably not work after this.'
Others were more compassionate. 'This is so sweet,' said one. 'I'm sure it was like leaving a second mom. Winona talked about how her favorite part was seeing all the kids grow up, I'm sure she was sobbing too.'
Noah, who is Jewish, was slammed for showing off 'Zionism is sexy' stickers in November 2023.
Just one month after he declared: 'You either stand with Israel or you stand with terrorism.'
He was heavily criticized for both, and in January of 2024, he took to TikTok to 'set the story straight' in a video.
The star, known for his performance as fan favorite Will Byers, told 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.'
Social media users poked fun at Noah's comments, years after his controversial Israel-Gaza comments
Despite the widespread assumption from critics that the apology had been forced by Netflix, a source told the Daily Mail at the time that there was 'zero pressure' from the show's cast or producers on Noah 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.'
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,' they 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 Noah declined to comment at the time.
Fans of the series have been patiently waiting for the show's final season for years, with the penultimate series airing all the way back in July 2022.
'But he has vanished — his whereabouts and plans unknown,' the official synopsis for the last chapter teases.
'Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding.
'As the anniversary of Will's disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread.
'The final battle is looming — and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they've faced before.
'To end this nightmare, they'll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time.'
