Gal Gadot: Pressure to Criticize Israel Caused 'Snow White' Flop

Gal Gadot Blames Hollywood Pressure for 'Snow White' Box Office Failure

Gal Gadot, the Israeli actress known for her role as Wonder Woman, has publicly attributed the box office failure of Disney’s 2025 live-action film Snow White to the growing pressure on celebrities to speak out against Israel. The film, which was expected to be a major success, struggled at the box office and received harsh reviews from critics.

Rachel Zegler, who played the lead role of Snow White in the film, faced backlash after expressing support for Palestine on social media during the movie’s promotional campaign. This move reportedly led to an increase in death threats directed at Gadot, prompting Disney to provide additional security for the actor and her family.

Gadot spoke about the situation on The A Talks, an Israeli celebrity interview program, where she expressed her disappointment with the film’s reception. She said she had “really enjoyed filming” Snow White and even appreciated working with Zegler. However, she noted that the film’s performance was affected by the political climate following the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel.

On that day, Hamas launched a terror attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking approximately 250 hostages into the Gaza Strip. In response, Israel initiated a military offensive that has resulted in the deaths of over 61,897 people in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry. While the ministry does not distinguish between fighters and civilians, it states that around half of the victims were women and children.

Gadot admitted that she was disappointed that the film suffered due to the pressure on celebrities in Hollywood to criticize Israel. She believed the movie could have been a success but felt it was negatively impacted by the political tensions surrounding the conflict.

The film had a weak opening at the box office, earning just $43 million over its first weekend despite an estimated production cost of $270 million. Critics panned the movie, calling it “disappointing” and “confusing.” One reviewer from The Independent wrote that the film offered nothing new for Zegler, who had previously starred in West Side Story, and criticized Gadot’s performance as the Evil Queen.

Gadot, who was born in Israel, served as a combat fitness instructor in the IDF army for two years when she was just 20 years old. Her service included participation in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war, which caused over 1,000 civilian deaths in Lebanon and displaced more than one million people. The conflict is believed to have claimed 165 Israeli lives.

In 2024, a year after the October 7 attacks, Gadot delivered a powerful speech at the Anti-Defamation League’s summit. She expressed her shock at seeing people around the world not condemning Hamas but instead celebrating and justifying the massacre of Jews.

Her strong support for Israel contrasted sharply with Zegler’s public backing of Palestine, leading to speculation about tension on set during the film’s production. Despite this, Gadot maintained that she had a positive experience working with her co-star.

The controversy surrounding Snow White highlights the challenges that celebrities face when navigating political issues in the public eye. As the entertainment industry continues to grapple with these complex topics, the intersection of art and activism remains a topic of ongoing debate.