Gal Gadot Says ‘Pressure’ To Condemn Israel Led To ‘Snow White’ Flop

Gal Gadot Talks About the Impact of Celebrity Pressure on ‘Snow White’ Box Office Performance

In a recent interview on the Israeli celebrity program The A Talks, actress Gal Gadot addressed the struggles faced by Disney’s live-action adaptation of Snow White, which starred Rachel Zegler alongside her. According to Gadot, the film’s disappointing box office performance was significantly influenced by the “pressure on celebrities to speak out against Israel.”

When asked about her feelings regarding the film’s lack of success, Gadot expressed her enjoyment of the filming process. “First of all, I have to say that I really enjoyed filming this movie,” she shared in Hebrew, as reported by The Jerusalem Post. She also reflected positively on her collaboration with Zegler, stating, “I even enjoyed working with Rachel Zegler. We laughed, we talked, and it was fun. I was sure that this movie was going to be a huge success.”

Gadot, who served two years in the Israeli Defense Forces during her mandatory conscription, participated in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war. Her military background led to controversy, with Lebanon banning the release of Wonder Woman in 2017 due to her service. In contrast, Zegler has publicly supported Palestine and Gaza, a stance that reportedly created tension with producer Marc Platt during the promotional phase of Snow White.

Gadot continued, “And then October 7 happened. What’s going on in various industries, including Hollywood, is that there’s a lot of pressure on celebrities to speak out against Israel.” She expressed disappointment that the film’s performance was impacted by these external factors, stating, “I can always explain and try to provide context about what’s happening here, but ultimately, people make their own choices. I was disappointed that the movie was greatly affected by that and didn’t do well at the box office.”

The broader context surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains a critical issue. Humanitarian organizations, including the UN Special Committee, Amnesty International, and Doctors Without Borders, have raised alarms about the situation in Gaza, with reports indicating a looming humanitarian crisis.

In recent months, Gadot has faced protests related to her upcoming film, The Runner, with activists expressing their views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Additionally, her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony was interrupted by demonstrators from both pro-Palestine and pro-Israel groups.

Ultimately, Disney incurred an estimated loss of $115 million on Snow White, highlighting how external pressures can profoundly affect the film industry and its projects.