Gal Gadot has redoubled her commitment to voicing support for Israel amidst its conflict with Hamas, revealing her astonishment at the vitriolic backlash her stance elicited. The 39-year-old star of "Snow White," hailing from Petah Tikva, Israel, addressed the furor surrounding her remarks in the wake of the tragic massacre on October 7, 2023.
"I was utterly astonished by the tide of hatred that surged through me,by people's misplaced certainty in matters they know nothing about, and by the media's frequent lack of fairness. Hence, I felt compelled to speak out," Gadot confessed in an interview with Variety, prior to her Walk of Fame induction ceremony on Tuesday, which was marred by anti-Israeli protesters.
Immediately following the attack, the actress took to social media to express her solidarity. "I stand with Israel, and you should too," she posted on Instagram on October 7, 2023. "The world cannot remain neutral in the face of such horrific terrorist acts!"
Gadot has persisted in advocating for those affected, her viewpoints clashing with those of her "Snow White" co-star Rachel Zegler. As the actress portraying the Evil Queen in Disney's remake, Gadot clarified her stance, acknowledging her usual reluctance to discuss politics publicly.
"Post-October 7th, I avoid politics—why should celebrities weigh in on such matters? I'm an artist. My goal is to entertain, to bring hope, to be a guiding light," Gadot shared with Variety. "Yet, when innocent people were forcibly removed from their homes, from their beds—men, women, children, elders, Holocaust survivors—enduring the unimaginable horrors of that day, silence was not an option."
Before receiving her Hollywood Walk of Fame star this week, Gadot's ceremony was disrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters wielding signs that read, "Heroes Fight Like Palestinians," "Viva Palestina," and "No Other Land Won Oscar." They chanted slogans such as "Up with liberation, down with occupation" and "Not another penny, not another dime, no more money for Israel's crime."
Law enforcement was present to maintain order, separating clashes between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrators. TMZ reported sightings of officers handcuffing several protesters. An LAPD spokesperson informed The Post that officers were "assigned to ensure crowd control and peace," noting that despite the disturbance, "no arrests were made."
Disney's live-action remake of "Snow White" has been shrouded in controversy for years. The casting of Latina actress Zegler sparked outrage from some quarters, while the film's portrayal of Snow White's "dwarves" faced scrutiny. Peter Dinklage, a "Game of Thrones" star with achondroplasia, lambasted Disney for insensitivity towards little people. In response, Disney renamed the film "Snow White," announced a "different approach" with the seven characters, and consulted with members of the dwarfism community to avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the animated original.
This new approach involved replacing the dwarves with "magical creatures" of varying sizes and genders, prompting accusations of being overly "politically correct" and "woke." Further backlash ensued when Disney decided to animate the dwarves using CGI instead of hiring little people actors.
Meanwhile, Zegler stirred fury by branding the animated "Snow White" as "extremely dated," insisting the remake would not depict her character as a damsel in distress. She also launched a social media tirade against Trump supporters ahead of the 2024 election. Reports suggest that the wide gap between Zegler's and Gadot's political views led to behind-the-scenes drama, with sources telling People they had "nothing in common."
The myriad controversies prompted Disney to scale down the premiere, much to the disappointment of some cast members. Although both Gadot and Zegler attended, they refrained from participating in a Q&A or press interviews.
