Gal Gadot Blames Anti-Israel Sentiment for Snow White's Box Office Bomb
BOX OFFICE BOMB: GADOT BLAMES ANTISemitic SENTIMENT FOR SNOW WHITE FLOP
In a shocking revelation, Gal Gadot has finally broken her silence on the disastrous live-action remake of Disney's Snow White, which tanked at the box office, leaving millions in losses. The Israeli actress and Wonder Woman star made some scathing remarks during an interview in Israel, pointing fingers at anti-Israel sentiment as the main culprit behind the film's catastrophic failure.
Gadot, 40, was visibly emotional as she reflected on the movie's poor reception, stating that she had "always been sure" Snow White would be a hit. However, the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, triggered a chain reaction of events that ultimately led to its downfall. The actress hinted at the immense pressure she faced from Hollywood, with many celebrities being coerced into speaking out against Israel.
"I can always explain and try to give context about what's happening here," Gadot said in her native Hebrew before switching to English, "But in the end, people make their own decisions." She expressed disappointment that the movie didn't succeed at the box office but added, "You win some, you lose some."
The Snow White remake was plagued by controversies from the very beginning. The casting of Rachel Zegler, who is known for her outspoken views on politics, was a hot button issue. Many criticized her initial comments, including her support for the Palestinian cause and her denunciation of the original 1937 animated classic.
Zegler's polarizing remarks sparked outrage online, with some accusing her of bringing her personal politics onto the film's promotional tour. Her co-star, Gal Gadot, faced backlash as well when she was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame while Zegler was embroiled in controversy.
In an explosive interview, Jonah Platt, son of producer Marc Platt, publicly slammed Zegler for her divisive rants and revealed that his father had flown cross-country to reprimand her. The Platt family's involvement only added fuel to the fire, with many fans feeling that Disney had taken sides in the controversy.
As the months went by, Zegler continued to make headlines for all the wrong reasons. She faced online backlash for a string of splashy political remarks, including a 'free Palestine' tweet and a wish expressed after last year's American elections that Trump voters "never know peace."
The movie's initial casting was also marred by controversy when it emerged that Zegler didn't match the original Grimm's fairy tale description of Snow White as having "skin as white as snow." However, the most egregious mistake came when Disney replaced the seven dwarfs with actors of varying physical descriptions to avoid reinforcing stereotypes. The move backfired spectacularly, and the little people who had initially been cast for the movie spoke out against the decision.
The seven dwarfs were eventually reinstated in the film but in a jarring twist – they were rendered in CGI instead of being played by actual little people. This move was met with widespread mockery online, with many social media users accusing Disney of pandering to woke culture.
Weeks before the movie's release, Gadot and Zegler appeared onstage together at the Oscars to present best visual effects. Their body language was scrutinized by fans, with some speculating that they might have had a feud brewing beneath the surface.
However, in a surprising twist, Gadot claimed to have enjoyed working with Zegler, saying "I laughed, talked and had fun" on set. She also denied claims that she had refused to present an award to the pro-Palestine documentary No Other Land, stating that she was never scheduled to do so in the first place.
Despite its disastrous box office performance, Snow White managed a 38% rating on Rotten Tomatoes but left audiences unimpressed. With its heavy price tag and numerous controversies, it's no wonder the film has become one of Hollywood's biggest flops of all time.
The question remains: what exactly went wrong with Snow White? Was it the casting of Zegler, the backlash against Israel, or simply a misstep in Disney's attempts to appease woke culture? Whatever the reason, one thing is clear – Gal Gadot has finally spoken out on the controversy, and it's not pretty.
UPDATE
This article was first published on thescholarlynote.com.