Por Renan Filho · 2026-09-28**Lead**
LOS ANGELES — Kristofer Kamiyasu, the actor best known for his supporting role in the Netflix romantic comedy series ‘Nobody Wants This,’ sparked controversy over the weekend after he addressed a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Westwood, accusing Israel of committing acts of genocide. Video footage of the rally, recorded on Saturday afternoon, shows Kamiyasu shouting through a megaphone, “Israel is committing genocide! — a statement that immediately drew sharp criticism from pro-Israel advocacy groups and prompted widespread discussion on social media platforms.
The protest, organized by the Los Angeles chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace and the group IfNotNow, drew approximately 2,000 participants who marched from the Federal Building on Wilshire Boulevard toward the Westwood neighborhood, where tensions flared near the UCLA campus. The demonstration marked the 11-month anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people and saw around 250 others taken hostage. Since that day, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has resulted in over 41,000 Palestinian deaths according to the Gaza Health Ministry, figures that cannot be independently verified but have been accepted by numerous international agencies including the United Nations.
**Contexto**
Kamiyasu, 47, has built a career in television and film with credits that include ‘The Good Place,’ ‘Shameless,’ and the Apple TV+ series ‘Acapulco.’ His most prominent role to date came in ‘Nobody Wants This,’ a Netflix comedy starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody that premiered in September 2026 to generally favorable reviews. The actor’s public statement on the conflict places him among a growing list of Hollywood figures who have taken vocal stances regarding the Israel-Hamas war, a trend that has divided the entertainment industry since the conflict began last October.
The term “genocide” has become a flashpoint in the debate over Israel’s military operations. In December 2025, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a preliminary ruling in a case brought by South Africa, finding it “plausible” that Israel’s actions in Gaza could amount to genocide under the Genocide Convention. The court ordered Israel to take measures to prevent acts of genocide and to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israel has vehemently rejected the genocide accusation, arguing that its military operations are targeted against Hamas militants and that it follows international law, a position supported by the United States government and several European allies.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly described the war as a battle for survival against a terrorist organization that committed atrocities on October 7. The Israeli government has also pointed to Hamas’s use of civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and schools, as military command centers, arguing that this complicates efforts to avoid civilian casualties. The United Nations and independent human rights organizations have documented widespread destruction of residential buildings, displacement of over 1.9 million Palestinians, and severe shortages of food, water, and medicine in Gaza, conditions that UN officials have described as “catastrophic” but have stopped short of uniformly labeling as genocide.
**Analise**
Kamiyasu’s accusation carries weight because it emerges from the cultural sphere, where public figures increasingly influence public opinion on foreign policy matters. According to a 2025 Pew Research Center survey, 62% of Americans under the age of 30 said they believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, a figure that has risen sharply since the start of the war. Among all American adults, the figure stands at 40%, reflecting a deep generational and partisan divide. The same survey found that 85% of Republicans view Israel’s military campaign as justified, compared to only 35% of Democrats. Kamiyasu’s audience, drawn largely from Netflix’s younger demographic, aligns closely with those who hold the most critical views of Israel’s actions.
The backlash against the actor was swift. The Israeli-American Council (IAC) issued a statement condemning his remarks, calling them “reckless and inflammatory” and accusing him of “amplifying false and dangerous rhetoric that fuels antisemitism.” On social media, some users called for a boycott of ‘Nobody Wants This,’ while others defended his right to free speech. The actor has not issued a follow-up statement or clarification, and representatives for Kamiyasu did not respond to requests for comment from the FORTIS NEWS press team by the time of publication.
This incident also reflects a broader trend in Hollywood activism. High-profile figures such as Mark Ruffalo, Joaquin Phoenix, and Susan Sarandon have all publicly called for a cease-fire and criticized the Israeli government, while others like Gal Gadot, Jerry Seinfeld, and Debra Messing have vocally supported Israel. The entertainment industry remains deeply fractured, with several film festivals and award shows becoming stages for political statements. In April 2026, the Cannes Film Festival faced controversy when Palestinian filmmaker Lina Soualem used her acceptance speech to condemn Israeli military actions, leading to both applause and walkouts from the audience.
**Fontes**
- The 2025 Pew Research Center survey on American attitudes toward the Israel-Hamas war. - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) updates on Gaza, September 28, 2026. - International Court of Justice preliminary ruling on South Africa v. Israel, December 2025. - Gaza Health Ministry reports, cited by the World Health Organization, through September 28, 2026. - Social media video footage from the Westwood rally, September 26, 2026, provided by multiple news outlets including CNN affiliate KCAL. - Israeli-American Council official statement published September 27, 2026. - Israeli Prime Minister’s Office press releases regarding military operations in Gaza.