Adam Brody Faces Criticism From Erin Foster and Tovah Feldshuh

Public disagreements over the Israel-Gaza conflict have emerged among the cast and creative team of Netflix's Nobody Wants This after star Adam Brody expressed support for Palestinians and described the conflict in Gaza as genocide. Creator Erin Foster and co-star Tovah Feldshuh have challenged his position, while former rabbi consultant Steve Leder also criticized his remarks.

Brody, who plays a rabbi navigating an interfaith relationship in the series, discussed his views in a September interview with GQ. The show premiered in 2024 and draws on Foster's experience of converting to Judaism before marrying her husband, Simon Tikhman, in 2019.

In the GQ interview, Brody discussed his activism, including volunteer work with Swing Left, a political organization focused on educating voters in swing districts. He also described how political developments and the Israel-Gaza conflict had exposed differences in outlook among people in Hollywood.

Brody said he had discussed the Israel-Hamas war privately but had spoken less about it publicly. During the interview, he expressed support for a free Palestine and described the situation in Gaza as genocide.

"I wasn't looking under the hood too much, but you considered everyone to be like-minded," Brody said.

He then identified several developments that had challenged his assumptions about people in the entertainment industry.

"Between COVID, a second Trump term, Israel-Gaza, it's really brought out some different beliefs that I was ignorant to, and then disheartened by." Brody said.

Brody also said he hoped a future administration would change policies that he believed contributed to the suffering in Gaza.

"Put me down as thinking it's a genocide," Brody said.

He reiterated his support for Palestinian freedom and expressed dismay over the human cost of the conflict.

"Put me down as wanting a free Palestine." Brody said.

Brody acknowledged the suffering associated with the conflict and described the situation as having reached a point where change was overdue.

"It's awful that it's taken so much death and misery, but it does feel like it's reaching a breaking point that it should have a while ago." Brody said.

He also expressed hope that a change in US leadership could improve the situation.

"I'm hopeful that another administration can really do some good and correct some of these policies that are helping that situation be as awful as it is." Brody said.

Foster addressed the disagreement during an appearance on Amanda Hirsch's Not Skinny but Not Fat podcast on Oct. 27. She said people working together on the series could hold differing political views while maintaining mutual respect.

"It's complicated," Foster said.

She compared the show's working environment to households and communities where people debate contentious issues and disagree.

"I think our work environment, our set is very similar to dinner tables around the world, where people are having debate and discussion and disagreeing." Foster said.

Foster made clear that her affection for Brody did not mean she agreed with his position.

"And, you know, while I love Adam, I also disagree with him, and that's OK." Foster said.

Foster also emphasized her commitment to the show's Jewish audience. She said she wanted Jewish viewers to feel recognized and understood amid the broader debate.

"I see you and I hear you and I understand how you feel." Foster said, addressing the show's Jewish fans.

She described the series as an expression of her personal experience with Judaism and explained why Jewish representation remained important to her.

"The show has always been and always will be a love letter to Judaism. That is why I made this show," Foster said.

She connected that commitment to the experience of becoming Jewish and living as a Jewish person.

"It's because of how beautiful of an experience I've had becoming Jewish and being a Jewish person." Foster said.

Foster also highlighted what she viewed as a lack of positive portrayals of Jewish people in the current climate.

"And sitting here right now, at this time in the world where there is almost zero positive representation of Jewish people, I think it's so important to have that." Foster said.

Feldshuh, who plays Bina, Brody's character's mother, offered a more forceful rebuttal in an interview with the New York Post published on Oct. 25. She criticized celebrities who describe the Israel-Hamas conflict as genocide and raised concerns about the implications of those accusations for Jewish people.

Feldshuh characterized the political discourse as having a troubling ideological convergence.

"horseshoe effect," Feldshuh said, describing what she viewed as a convergence in which "socialism and antisemitism are trying to meet."

She strongly rejected describing the actions of Jewish people as genocide, comparing that accusation to Nazi propaganda.

"To accuse the Jewish people of genocide is wild," Feldshuh said.

She explained her objection by invoking the historical persecution of Jewish people.

"It's right out of Hitler's playbook." Feldshuh said.

She added that the accusation reverses the roles of victims and perpetrators.

"You take the victim and you make the victim the perpetrator." Feldshuh said.

Feldshuh also argued that such statements carry particular significance when they come from Jewish individuals themselves.

"makes a difference to the [Jewish] community." Feldshuh said.

She defended Israel's continued existence, describing it as important to democratic countries and the broader free world.

"I believe that the perseverance of the existence of the state of Israel is crucial to the well-being of the democratic world and of the free world." Feldshuh said.

Feldshuh also stressed the importance of the relationship between Israel and the United States.

"Of course, Israel needs the United States, [but] the United States needs Israel, believe you me." Feldshuh said.

Despite her political objections, Feldshuh said disagreements rarely defined the atmosphere on the show's set. She emphasized her responsibility to maintain positive relationships with her colleagues.

"My job, as Bina [her character] but also as Tovah, is to love the people on set at my place of work, to be kind," Feldshuh said.

Steve Leder, who served as a rabbi consultant for Brody during the first season of Nobody Wants This, also publicly challenged the actor's position. In an Instagram video posted on Sept. 29, Leder directly addressed Brody's comments about Gaza.

"Your pronouncement the other day about a genocide in Gaza was truly shocking," Leder said.

Leder explicitly rejected Brody's characterization of the conflict.

"There is no genocide in Gaza." Leder said.