‘Israel’ targets Netflix’s "Nobody Wants This" after actor playing rabbi backs Palestine

• Adam Brody, who plays Rabbi Noah Roklov in Netflix’s Nobody Wants This, has voiced support for a free Palestine and described 'Israel’s' actions in Gaza as genocide.
• Rabbi Yael Buechler has highlighted the tension between an actor’s political views and the Jewish religious character he portrays.

Rabbi Yael Buechler has raised concerns over the difficulty of separating a television character from an actor’s political views after Adam Brody, who plays a rabbi in Netflix’s romantic comedy Nobody Wants This, publicly expressed support for a free Palestine and described ‘Israel’s’ actions in Gaza as genocide.

Buechler, the Lower School Rabbi at The Leffell School and founder of MidrashManicures, reflected on the controversy in an article published by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA), discussing the tension between her appreciation for the show and her reaction to Brody’s political statements.

“There’s a certain cognitive dissonance that comes with becoming invested in a television character portrayed by an actor whose public statements conflict with one’s own beliefs,” Buechler wrote. “It’s especially complicated when that character is a rabbi.”

Brody, who portrays Rabbi Noah Roklov in the series, made the comments in an interview with GQ as the show returned for its third season.

“Put me down as thinking it’s a genocide. Put me down as wanting a free Palestine,” Brody said, referring to ‘Israel’s’ war on Gaza.

His remarks prompted criticism from pro-‘Israeli’ figures, including Rabbi Steve Leder, who advised the show on its portrayal of Judaism during its first season. Leder condemned Brody’s comments and disputed his characterization of the war.

The controversy has extended beyond Brody himself, raising questions among some viewers about whether an actor’s political views should affect their relationship with a series centered on Jewish identity and religious life.

In her article, Buechler acknowledged that some viewers might decide not to watch the new season because of Brody’s statements.

However, she also reflected on the show’s portrayal of Jewish life and traditions. Nobody Wants This follows the relationship between Noah, a rabbi, and Joanne, a non-Jewish woman played by Kristen Bell, exploring interfaith relationships, synagogue life and conversion to Judaism.

The show’s creator, Erin Foster, has also addressed the controversy, saying she disagreed with Brody’s remarks while emphasizing that differing political opinions could coexist.

“I disagree with him, and that’s OK,” Foster said, according to reports about an upcoming podcast interview. She also described the series as a “love letter to Judaism.”

The debate comes as Nobody Wants This enters its third season, placing Brody’s support for Palestinian freedom at the center of a wider discussion about political expression, religious representation and the separation of performers from their on-screen roles.