Dave Coulier defends John Stamos for wearing bald cap to support his cancer battle with emotional message
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Dave Coulier tried to tamp down social media comments blasting his Full House costar and longtime friend John Stamos on Tuesday.
Stamos stirred up controversy on Monday when he appeared in a photoshoot with Coulier while wearing a bald cap to match the 65-year-old comedian's newly shaved head, which followed his announced that he had been diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
But several fans and commenters found the display tasteless or inappropriately comical.
An insider later told DailyMail.com that Stamos would have shaved his own hair off 'in a heartbeat' if he wasn't required to keep it for his Apple TV+ series Palm Royale.
Coulirer — who played Joey on Full House from 1987 to 1995 and returned for its Netflix sequel, Fuller House, from 2016 to 2020 — took to Instagram the following day with an emotional text post sticking up for Stamos, 61, in which he defended the poorly received bald cap and the actors' decades-long friendship.
'I'm sorry to see a bunch of negative comments as I've just begun my cancer journey,' he began somberly.
Dave Coulier, 65, tried to tamp down social media comments blasting his Full House costar and longtime friend John Stamos on Tuesday; pictured in 2017 in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Stamos stirred up controversy on Monday when he appeared in a photoshoot with Coulier while wearing a bald cap to match the comedian's newly shaved head, which followed his announced that he had been diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkins lymphoma
He defended the bald cap photos as an expression of his 'friendship' with Stamos and said the silly photos were 'how we are handling a very tough time.'
'I'm a comedian and humor is what drives me,' Coulier continued. 'John knows how to cheer me up and I laughed out loud when he arrived wearing a bald cap — being a true loving friend and brother.'
Coulier wrote that he had received an outpouring of support from people who were 'inspired' by his cancer diagnosis announcement to 'check in with their doctors and get mammograms, a colonoscopy or a prostate exam.'
'I'm still going to laugh in the face of adversity,' he wrote defiantly.
Coulier said he 'tried to stay positive' and make others 'laugh' when he had suffered through the loss of his sister Sharon, mother Arlen and niece Shannon to cancer, and he didn't plan to address his own cancer any differently.
'I'm choosing to spread the word about early cancer detection to help people. That's just who I am,' he said.
Although he had defended his close pal Stamos, the television star avoided hammering critical fans and took the high road by concluding, 'I wish nothing but love for all of you.'
Stamos applauded his friend in a wordless comment featuring three red heart emojis.
He defended the bald cap photos as an expression of his 'friendship' with Stamos and said the silly photos were 'how we are handling a very tough time'
He defended his desire to 'laugh in the face of adversity' after multiple female family members had died of cancer, and he said he was inspired to know that fans got checked for cancer due to his diagnosis announcement
Stamos applauded his friend in a wordless comment featuring three red heart emojis
Coulier also got support from Kelly Rizzo, the widow of his late Full House costar Bob Saget, who died in January 2022 of a brain bleed likely caused by a devastating fall in his hotel room
Some fans were appalled by Stamos' bald cap post. 'I’m sorry as a breast cancer survivor this is not support. This is a joke,' wrote one furious Instagram user. 'You should be ashamed of yourself. That’s not how you support us'
Coulier also got support from Kelly Rizzo, the widow of his late Full House costar Bob Saget, who died in January 2022 of a brain bleed likely caused by a devastating fall in his hotel room.
'If people truly understood how much John loves Dave, then no one would say anything negative. I can only imagine Bob would've been right there next to you guys —helping and cracking jokes,' she wrote.
Caitlin McHugh, Stamos' wife, also defended him in the comments section.
'I really hope the people who chose to say cruel things about my husband — who flew across the country and did what he could do bring joy to his friend going through chemo — look inward,' she wrote. 'Instead of tearing down others, take that time to think about how you can bring joy to the people you love.'
Coulier's wife Melissa replied to her comment, writing, 'One hundred percent. We are so grateful for his support and love during one of the most challenging times!! We love you both so much.'
In Stamos' original bald cap post, which was jointly shared on Coulier's Instagram page, he wrote in the caption, 'Nothing like throwing on a bald cap and flexing some Photoshop skills to show some love and solidarity with my bro @dcoulier.'
He praised his Full House costar for showing 'so much strength and positivity' in the wake of his non-Hodgkins lymphoma diagnosis.
But some fans were appalled by the display.
'I’m sorry as a breast cancer survivor this is not support. This is a joke,' wrote one furious Instagram user. 'You should be ashamed of yourself. That’s not how you support us.'
Another person seethed: 'Why the bald cap! You could’ve supported your friend without “pretending” to shave your head!! If my friend did this to me I would be so offended!! I mean look at me with my fake bald head that I can take off whenever I want.'
One user declared that Stamos' display was 'not solidarity.'
Several people slammed Stamos for wearing a bald cap, which he could easily take off. But a source told DailyMail.com that he would have shaved his head 'in a heartbeat' if he wasn't required to keep his hair for his Apple TV+ series Palm Royale
Despite the negative reaction, Coulier has tried to remain 'positive' in the wake of his diagnosis with a thumbs-up as he went through a chemotherapy treatment
'You didn't actually shave your head. Wow... you should have just posted you are there for him without the insult,' they complained.
Despite the negative reaction, Coulier has tried to remain 'positive' in the wake of his diagnosis.
On Friday, he gave a smiling update and flashed a thumbs-up in a photo posted to his Instagram Stories.
'Putting a positive spin and sending love to all of you who are battling and going through chemo. And remember to laugh,' he wrote.
Coulier previously revealed that he shared the news of his diagnosis with his Full House colleagues via a group message.
The chat included series creator Jeff Franklin and Coulier's castmates Stamos, Lori Loughlin, Candace Cameron Bure, Jodie Sweetin, Andrea Barber and Scott Weinger.
Coulier previously opened up about another health struggle.
In 2022, he revealed that he had been battling alcohol addiction, which he decided to seek treatment for two years earlier.
He admitted the deciding moment when when he took a drunken fall that left his face bloodied and bruised, and he included the emotional picture in his Instagram announcement.
