Gal Gadot has responded to the controversy following her viral comments about Disney’s live-action Snow White. The actress, who played the Evil Queen, had told an Israeli TV show that she believed the film “was going to be a huge hit” until the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. She added that there was “a lot of pressure put on celebrities, actors, creators to post against Israel” and said she was disappointed that the film “was incredibly affected by all of that.” In the lead-up to the movie’s release, Gadot publicly supported Israel, while co-star Rachel Zegler expressed pro-Palestine views, prompting online calls for boycotts.
In an Instagram clarification, Gadot explained that she had answered questions from “an emotional place” and that critics had responded to her personally as an Israeli rather than as an actress. “That’s the perspective I spoke from when I answered the question. “The film’s underperformance wasn’t due solely to external pressures.”Many factors influence a film’s success, and no outcome is ever guaranteed,” she wrote.
Released in March, Snow White grossed $205 million worldwide against a production budget of nearly $300 million, receiving largely negative reviews with just 39% positive ratings on Rotten Tomatoes. Following the film’s underperformance, Disney has indefinitely paused its live-action remake of 2010’s Tangled.
Gadot’s clarification highlights the complex interplay of politics, public perception, and the entertainment industry, emphasizing that while external events may affect a film’s reception, multiple factors ultimately shape its success.
