‘Vampire Diaries’ Feud Erupts as Nathaniel Buzolic Claims a Co-Star Quietly Got Him Banned From Fan Events
Nathaniel Buzolic has built a public profile well beyond his vampire days as Kol Mikaelson. Born and raised in Sydney to Croatian immigrant parents, he has become a prominent voice in support of Israel, and that advocacy now defines much of his online presence.
He traveled to Israel in 2022 and spoke to his Instagram followers about the situation there. In a 2025 interview with The Sanity podcast from The New York Sun, he described the price he says he has paid in Hollywood for that support.
The latest flare-up began on Monday, when Buzolic posted a video on Instagram. In it, he claimed that an actor he worked with had him quietly banned from fan events whenever that actor attends, and he told followers that if you’ve noticed my absence, that’s why. The attribution links to his Instagram video.
He did not name the actor, but called him a coward for allegedly blacklisting him behind the scenes while keeping his own political stance private. Buzolic also said the same actor wanted to stop him from getting work.
The post’s cover reportedly carried more. It showed a text message he allegedly sent to the co-star asking if he had him blacklisted, which went unread. When a fan suggested hiring a lawyer, he replied that he had been tempted, since the situation has cost him a lot of his income.
Because Buzolic signed off with a Mikaelson family catchphrase, fans speculated that the co-star in question is Joseph Morgan, who played Klaus Mikaelson in the franchise. The name comes entirely from viewers. Buzolic never said it in the video.
Morgan has not commented on the post, and representatives for him did not immediately return TheWrap’s request for comment. Meanwhile, some fans have sided with Morgan and said their view of Buzolic has changed, while others have backed Buzolic in the comments.
The tone of the video has become part of the conversation as its slur-filled, which has complicated how the story is landing even among viewers who sympathize with his claim of being shut out.
This is not the first time the ‘Vampire Diaries’ universe has collided with the Israel-Gaza debate. Paul Wesley faced thousands of hostile responses in 2025 after telling an Israeli fan “I love Israel!” Nina Dobrev was targeted by anti-Israel trolls after sharing a “pray for Israel” post, while Michael Malarkey has voiced pro-Palestine views and called for a Starbucks boycott.
The wider industry has been wrestling with similar fault lines. Susan Sarandon was dropped by United Talent Agency after speaking at a pro-Palestinian rally, and Spyglass dropped Melissa Barrera from ‘Scream VII’ over her Instagram posts. Those cases involved studios and agencies, whereas Buzolic’s claim concerns informal gatekeeping at fan conventions, which is much harder to verify.
For now, the allegation rests on Buzolic’s word. No convention organizer or fellow cast member has confirmed that anyone was banned, and the co-star he is describing has not been publicly identified by him.
Fan conventions are a lifeline for many actors from long-running shows, which is why an accusation like this travels so quickly. Whether Buzolic names names or lets the matter fade, the ‘Vampire Diaries’ fandom is clearly split on how it feels about the whole affair.
Should the Vampire Diaries cast publicly address Nathaniel Buzolic's claims?
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