Gal Gadot Links Snow White's £84m Loss to Anti-Israel Sentiment

Gal Gadot’s Perspective on the Snow White Flop

Gal Gadot, known for her role as Wonder Woman, has shared her thoughts on the underperformance of Disney's live-action remake of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The film, which was released in March this year, faced a significant financial loss, with reported earnings of only £84 million. Gadot, who portrayed the evil stepmother, has attributed part of the movie’s failure to anti-Israel sentiment that permeated the industry.

The original 1937 animated film by Walt Disney is one of the most iconic in cinematic history. However, the recent remake sparked controversy due to its lead actress, Rachel Zegler, who openly expressed her pro-Palestine stance on social media. This led to widespread backlash and raised questions about the impact of political views on Hollywood productions.

Gadot, who is Israeli, addressed the issue during an interview with Keshet 12’s The A Talks program. She stated, “I was sure this movie was going to be a huge hit.” However, she also mentioned that the events of October 7, which marked a significant escalation in the conflict between Israel and Palestine, had a profound effect on the industry. “What’s happening in all kinds of industries, and also in Hollywood, is that there’s a lot of pressure on celebrities to speak out against Israel,” she said.

Zegler, who plays Snow White, faced criticism after sharing the film’s trailer online with a message that read, “And always remember, free Palestine.” This comment caused a rift between her and Gadot, leading to a private meeting between Zegler and the film’s producer, Mark Platt, who flew to Los Angeles to address the situation.

While Gadot remained quiet about the matter initially, she later reflected on the challenges. “I can always explain and try to give context about what’s happening here, and I always do that. But in the end, people make their own decisions,” she said. She also expressed disappointment over the film’s box office performance, acknowledging that it didn’t meet expectations.

In a recent Instagram post, Gadot added, “Of course, the film didn’t fail solely because of external pressures. There are many factors that determine why a film succeeds or fails and success is never guaranteed.”

Controversies Surrounding the Film

The film faced several controversies beyond the political discourse. One of the most notable issues was the decision to use CGI representations instead of actual actors for the dwarves. This choice sparked debate among fans and critics alike.

Additionally, casting Zegler as Snow White drew criticism, as she does not fit the traditional description of the character from the original German fairytale. The story describes Snow White’s “skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood and hair as black as ebony.” Critics argued that this casting decision deviated from the source material.

Disney also scaled back its plans for a lavish Hollywood premiere and canceled planned interviews with the media following the fallout. The studio faced mounting pressure to address the controversies surrounding the film.

Rachel Zegler defended her casting and the film’s direction, suggesting that her character represented a feminist interpretation. This sparked further criticism, with some viewers accusing her of trying to turn the beloved fairytale into a “woke” retelling.

Zegler also claimed that the film was based on a different version of the Brothers Grimm fairytale from 1812. She criticized the 1937 animated version for its portrayal of women in roles of power and admitted she had only seen it once. “The original cartoon came out in 1937, and very evidently so,” she said. “There’s a big focus on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. Weird. So we didn’t do that this time.”

These statements highlighted the challenges of reimagining classic stories while navigating modern sensibilities and audience expectations.