Social media users are calling for a boycott of the upcoming Wonka film starring Timothée Chalamet after the actor participated in a Saturday Night Live (SNL) skit that made a joke referencing the Palestinian terror group Hamas. In the skit, Chalamet plays an aspiring musician with a band named “Hamas,” pronounced “Hay-mus.”
The comedy group Please Don’t Destroy, trying to prevent the character from jumping off a building, agrees to support his music on social media until they learn the band’s name. The reference to Hamas in the skit has sparked backlash on social media, with pro-Palestinian accounts calling for a boycott of the Wonka film.
Some users expressed disappointment, citing Roald Dahl’s pro-Palestinian stance and accusing Chalamet of making light of a sensitive issue. Calls for a boycott were accompanied by criticism of the actor, with some accusing him of being “dirty and inconsiderate” and mocking genocide. The new Wonka film, featuring Chalamet as Willy Wonka, is scheduled for release on December 15.
The controversy arises from the SNL skit, where Chalamet’s character spells out “Hamas” for the comedy group, prompting a refusal to support a band with that name. The backlash on social media reflects divergent views on the appropriateness of joking about a group designated as a terrorist organization by multiple countries.
Pro-Palestinian accounts across social media are calling on fans to boycott the upcoming film Wonka after actor Timothée Chalamet made fun of Hamas on a recent episode of SNL.
During a skit, three members of the comedy group Please Don’t Destroy tried to convince Chalamet, who is playing a struggling musician, not to jump off a building and kill himself.
The group said it would support his music if he didn’t jump, but then learned he plays for a band called Hamas,” pronounced “Hay-mus.”
“Would you share it on Instagram?” Chalamet asks.
“If it means you won’t kill yourself, yeah,” a member responds. “What’s your band’s name?” another member of the trio asks, to which the actor replies,
“It’s Haymus,” Chalamet replies., “H-A-M-A-S.”
“Yeah, dude, I’m not sharing a song by Hamas on Instagram.”
NBC’s Saturday Night Live faces backlash for ‘Hamas’ sketch with Timothee Chalamet pic.twitter.com/rWtGcHrBHS
— TRT World (@trtworld) November 14, 2023
