Gal Gadot Reverses Stance: Anti-Israel Sentiment Not to Blame for Snow White's Box Office Blues
Gal Gadot Backpedals on Anti-Israel Sentiment Blame for Snow White's Box Office Failure
The drama surrounding the live-action remake of Disney's Snow White just got even juicier! Gal Gadot, the 40-year-old Israeli actress who starred in the film opposite Rachel Zegler, is now walking back her comments about anti-Israel sentiment being the reason behind the movie's box office bomb.
Just last week, a clip of Gadot discussing the film's low turnout with Israeli TV show The A Talks circulated on social media. In the clip, she hinted that the negative reception was due to her Jewish heritage and Israel's actions in Gaza. However, after facing backlash from fans and critics alike, Gadot has now clarified her statements.
Taking to Instagram, Gadot addressed the controversy, writing: "I was honored to join an extraordinary interview with inspiring interviewers, whose questions go straight to the heart. Sometimes we respond to questions from an emotional place." She continued, "When the film came out, I felt that those who are against Israel criticized me in a very personal, almost visceral way. They saw me, first and foremost, as an Israeli, not as an actress."
Gadot claimed that she was responding from a place of emotion when she made her initial comments. She emphasized that she didn't mean to imply that the film's failure was solely due to external pressures or anti-Israel sentiment.
However, it seems like Gadot is still trying to distance herself from Zegler's "free Palestine" comment ahead of Snow White's release. The two leading ladies were reportedly at odds over their differing views on Israel's actions in Gaza. While the film's promotional run was professional and pleasant, rumors of a feud between the two stars have been circulating for months.
The controversy surrounding Snow White has been ongoing since its release on March 21. The remake faced criticism from all sides, with some slamming Disney for giving it a "politically correct revamp" while others accused Zegler of being insensitive to Israel's actions in Gaza.
In the midst of the backlash, Disney took the unusual step of canceling the large-scale premiere meant to be held at Leicester Square in London. Sources close to the studio revealed that they were anticipating an anti-woke backlash against Snow White and had reduced the media schedule to just a handful of tightly controlled press events.
But what exactly led to the film's box office failure? According to Gadot, it was a combination of factors, including external pressures and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. She claimed that she has faced pressure from her industry peers to speak out against Israel, but always tries to provide context and give her own perspective on the situation.
Gadot's initial comments sparked outrage among fans who felt that she was unfairly blaming anti-Israel sentiment for the film's failure. Now, it seems like Gadot is trying to clean up the mess by clarifying her statements and shifting the blame onto external factors.
But one thing is clear: the drama surrounding Snow White has been a wild ride from start to finish! What do you think? Did Gadot's initial comments justify the backlash against Israel, or was it just another example of Hollywood's politics getting in the way of art?
Sources:
- The A Talks
- People (via The Scholarly Note)