The Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas appeared on the latest episode of SubwayTakes with host Kareem Rahma, which premiered online April 21. The viral YouTube series features Rahma sitting next to celebrities on a New York subway train and inviting them to share their hottest takes on life into a microphone attached to a MetroCard.
During the episode, Casablancas bonded with Rahma over shared views on the U.S. political landscape and the conflict in Gaza.
In the 21-minute “uncut” edition of the episode, the musician discussed privilege, politics, the Israel-Hamas war and other topics. When Rahma asked him to name his most controversial take, the singer drew a comparison between American Zionists and “Black people during slavery.”
Casablancas hesitated before sharing his take, joking, “Well, it’s been nice having a career,” before delivering it: “American Zionists get the benefits of white privileged people, but talk like they are Black people during slavery.”
Rahma immediately agreed. He said he had “never seen something so shocking” and added: “You are going to a wedding in Tel Aviv right now when there are 80,000-plus dead people, including women and children, half a mile away.”
Casablancas then drew a parallel between Hamas’ actions and historical rebellions by oppressed groups in American history. He made clear he did not support Hamas, acknowledging the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel was “bad.”
He added, “Native American rebellions didn’t mean it was OK to do what we did. Slave rebellions that were violent didn’t mean that slavery [was] not bad. So, that’s the scope of that answer — just for the haters.”
The two then discussed what they described as a tendency toward conformity and fear of dissent. When Rahma suggested Casablancas’ clarification was aimed at the “media illiterate,” the singer added: “Indoctrination is such a strong thing. We just want to be part of the tribe. But it is a sad fact [that] the brainwashing of people in general. You can’t be mad.”
Despite his frustrations, Casablancas struck an optimistic note. Asked whether he had hope, he said it depended on one’s timeline, but that he believed “people are awakening” — and that change could come “eventually,” perhaps even “today” or “tomorrow.”