Fans divided over John Stamos’ ‘bald cap’ post amid co-star Dave Coulier’s cancer battle

John Stamos has reportedly admitted he “missed the mark” with a post showing him wearing a bald cap in support of his Full House co-star Dave Coulier, recently diagnosed with stage 3 lymphoma.

The 61-year-old sparked backlash online after posting a picture of himself wearing the bald cap with Coulier, 65, to showcase his “Photoshop skills” and show solidarity.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Full House star Dave Coulier reveals battle with cancer.

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The image, shared on both actors’ Instagram accounts on Tuesday (AEDT), was intended to offer a light-hearted take on living with the disease.

Fans were completely divided over the post, prompting several insiders to explain the context.

John Stamos (right) divided the internet by wearing a bald cap amid Dave Coulier’s (left) cancer battle. Credit: johnstamos/Instagram

“John wears his heart on his sleeve, and Dave and his wife Melissa know his intentions were in good spirits,” one insider told Daily Mail.

“One of his friends is ill, and he wants him to feel good and get better and be able to laugh. Not once did he think people would be upset about the post.

“They both intended the post to be in good nature and shine a fun light on something that is incredibly hard to deal with.

“If people dealing with cancer took offence, they genuinely feel bad about that, but they aren’t going to let trolls take them down a notch.

“That energy is not what they need right now.”

A separate insider explained that Stamos did not actually shave his head due to his ongoing role in the Apple TV+ drama Palm Royale.

“John is currently working on Palm Royale, which requires him to have hair. Otherwise, he would shave his hair in a heartbeat,” they said.

“John acknowledges that he missed the mark on this one.

“He has lost people to cancer in his life, as has his wife Caitlin. He can see how people could be upset about this.”

The post, however, received criticism, with some accusing Stamos of being “shallow” for not shaving his head and wearing a bald cap instead.

Others claimed he was seeking Instagram “likes” rather than genuinely supporting Coulier.

Left: John Stamos shaves Dave Coulier’s head. Right: Stamos and Melissa Coulier kiss Coulier’s head. Credit: johnstamos/Instagram

“What a shallow gesture! Couldn’t even cut your hair off for your friend,” one person wrote.

“And you made sure to post it on Instagram to get those likes too.”

Another added: “Come on, John, shave it!!! Sending much love and strength.”

A third, identifying as a breast cancer survivor, said: “I’m sorry, as a breast cancer survivor this is not support. This is a joke. You should be ashamed of yourself. That’s not how you support us.”

“I mean shave your head or don’t. The bald cap feels mocking and icky,” added another.

However, others defended Stamos, noting the gesture was meant to bring humour.

“As someone who has had cancer three times, I NEVER wanted anyone to shave their head for me,” one user wrote.

“I think this is great and hilarious, and I’m sure Dave didn’t really want him to shave his head.”

Another said: “Standing in solidarity isn’t just shaving your head. Don’t be cruel, they are lifelong friends.”

John Stamos and Dave Coulier. Credit: Chris Willard/ABC

Full House stars David Coulier , John Stamos and Bob Saget in the 1980s. Credit: MediaPunch/MediaPunch via Getty Images

“Awwww this is so cute … also, to anyone in the comments ... if Dave isn’t offended by this, you shouldn’t be either and remember ... John is an actor and may need his hair for his JOB,” added another.

Stamos and Coulier posted three images on Instagram on Monday, including one of him wearing a bald cap as he shaved Coulier’s head and another showed him and Coulier’s wife, Melissa, kissing the actor’s head.

“Nothing like throwing on a bald cap and flexing some Photoshop skills to show some love and solidarity with my bro @dcoulier,” Stamos captioned the post.

“You’re handling this with so much strength and positivity — it’s inspiring. I know you’re going to get through this, and I’m proud to stand with you every step of the way.

“I love you (p.s. - @melissacoulier is the most wonderfulest - your true lifeline!).”

Kelly Rizzo, the widow of their late Full House co-star Bob Saget, added her thoughts during an interview at the 11th Annual Reality TV Awards in Los Angeles.

“I saw he and John posted something about shaving their heads, you know Stamos is not going to shave his head,” she told E! News.

“I don’t care how much he wants to support his buddy. He’s never shaving his head!”

Coulier, best known as Joey Gladstone on Full House, broke the news during an interview on the US Today show last week, telling co-anchor Hoda Kotb that he was diagnosed five weeks ago.

Since then, Coulier has faced three surgeries and rounds of chemotherapy, joking: “I kind of look like a baby bird now, but it has been a rollercoaster ride, for sure.”

Dave Coulier has confirmed he has been diagnosed with cancer. Credit: NBC/Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

The actor recounted how he first discovered a lump in his groin, which he described as feeling like a “golf ball”, prompting him to seek medical advice.

“The onset of this growing lymphoma in my groin area was very quick so I said ‘Something’s not right, I have a golf ball down here’,” he told Kotb.

“And so we biopsed it, we took it out, and they said ‘You know, we wish we had better news for you, but you have B cell lymphoma’.”

After doctors confirmed the diagnosis, they urged him to begin chemotherapy right away.

“When they said ‘cancer,’ I was home alone,” Coulier said, recalling how when he later broke the news to his wife, Melissa, she told him to stop joking.

Following additional testing, Coulier received some relief — his bone marrow was clear, meaning the cancer hadn’t spread widely, raising the possibility of recovery to more than 90 per cent.

Despite the intensity of his treatment, Coulier remains upbeat.

He’s completed one round of chemotherapy with another due this week, even preemptively shaving his head to better fit his hockey helmet and maintain his “aerodynamics on the ice”.

The actor and devoted hockey fan expects to be in full remission by February.