John Stamos found himself in controversy after wearing a bald cap in an Instagram post supporting his longtime friend and former Full House co-star Dave Coulier. The latter has been diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Comedian Coulier rushed to Stamos's defense, explaining that the bald cap gesture was "laughs and comfort during a dark time." The online world was sharply divided, with some labeling the move "insensitive" while others labeled it a genuine show of solidarity.
Coulier explained the context in an Instagram post, saying humor has always been his coping mechanism:
“I laughed out loud when [Stamos] arrived wearing a bald cap — being a true loving friend and brother”.
Meanwhile, John Stamos reacted rather confused and disappointed, claiming that the scandals "hurt" him, but did acknowledge how cancer needs to be diagnosed in its early stages.
“Instead of making silly little comments, people should call their doctor. That’s the whole point of this,” he remarked.
Full House stars John Stamos and David Coulier are very close friends
Their bond is beyond the Full House days, as John Stamos and Dave Coulier span decades of collaboration and personal friendship. Stamos, who acted as Jesse Katsopolis, and Coulier, who portrayed Joey Gladstone, became heartthrobs for their on-camera camaraderie and off-camera brotherhood.
Coulier disclosed on November 13, 2024, that he had been diagnosed with cancer. The couple's friendship has come further to the center after the diagnosis. He shared the details of his aggressive diagnosis and chemotherapy journey in his podcast, Full House Rewind, and a People magazine interview.
“It’s been a really fast roller coaster ride,” Coulier said.
He explained how he shifted from thinking that he had a simple head cold to dealing with a life-threatening illness. John Stamos, unable to shave his head because of filming commitments, went for a bald cap instead.
On Instagram, he wrote, “Nothing like throwing on a bald cap… to show some love and solidarity with my bro @dcoulier. I know you’re going to get through this.”
Coulier's wife, Melissa was also highly commended in Stamos' post:
“The most wonderfulest – your true lifeline.”
Public backlash on the bald cap and John Stamos’ response
The backlash to John Stamos' post was swift. Many detractors slated that the close-up of the bald cap was a shallow gesture.
Speaking with TMZ at LAX, Stamos said,
“I’m embarrassed for people that they waste time on this. All I was doing was cheering up a friend.”
He said that the nasty comments "hurt," especially as they distracted from the appeal meant to spread the message of support toward Coulier and breast cancer awareness. Coulier responded by defending John Stamos directly.
“It’s our friendship, and this is how we’re handling a tough time. Humor drives me,” he wrote on Instagram.
Coulier also wishes to use this experience to spread an early detection message. He remembers how his sister, niece, and mother all lost their lives to cancer.
John Stamos' best friend Dave Coulier’s fight with cancer
Coulier, diagnosed with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, has been on the OT table many times. He hopes to be done with chemotherapy rounds by February 2025.
He remains hopeful, thus declaring to Today,
“I’ve had an incredible life… This has been an extraordinary journey.”
He has used his platform to raise awareness for the cause. He hopes that the story he shares will inspire others to look after themselves, Coulier said.
Per the Mayo Clinic, non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of cancer that originates in the lymphatic system, affecting swollen lymph nodes, abdominal pain, or chest discomfort. Coulier stressed that early detection is the only way to combat it.
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Fans can now tune in to Dave Coulier's podcast, Full House Rewind.
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