Joe Goldberg, the stalker protagonist of Netflix's smash hit You is many things. He's a bibliophile, he's a mass murderer, he's a man that seemingly has endless resources for his twisted plots. But, is he Jewish?
Many online have speculated as to whether the Antihero played by Penn Badgley has a Jewish background. The name Goldberg, commonly taken by Jews in Europe as an ornamental name in the 17th and 18th centuries is one of the most well-known Jewish names, even among gentiles.
For Joe Goldberg however, it may not be that straightforward. According to an interview with the 'culturally Jewish' writer behind the TV show, Goldberg wasn't chosen to be an identifiably Jewish name and indeed, his background is not mentioned in any of the show's seasons.
Sera Gamble told the JC: “In the book he’s half Jewish on his father’s side,” says Gamble. “Caroline said first in her mind was to give him a name that was really hard to Google. Because it’s so common, it feeds into the ways that he hides in plain sight and can move through the world online and in real life with ease.”
