Gal Gadot Backtracks on ‘Snow White’ Flop Claims Amid Israel-Hamas Fallout
Zoe Bennett here — your go-to voice for sharp, fact-driven celebrity analysis with a pulse on the cultural currents shaping Hollywood. When Gal Gadot recently suggested that anti-Israel sentiment in Hollywood contributed to the box office failure of Disney’s 2025 Snow White remake, she didn’t just spark headlines — she ignited a full-blown media firestorm. The Israeli-born star, best known for her role as Wonder Woman, claimed during an appearance on the Israeli talk show The A Talks that the film’s underperformance was directly tied to the global backlash following October 7, 2023. “I was positive the movie was going to be a huge hit,” she said, “and then Oct. 7 happened, and what happened all over in different industries… there was a lot of pressure put on celebrities, actors, creators to post against Israel.”
But by Sunday, Gadot had issued a clarification via Instagram Stories, walking back the implication that geopolitical tension single-handedly doomed the $240–$270 million production. “Sometimes we respond to questions from an emotional place,” she admitted. “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.” This shift in tone reveals more than just damage control — it underscores the high-stakes intersection of identity, art, and politics in today’s entertainment landscape.
The data doesn’t support a one-to-one correlation between political sentiment and box office performance. Snow White grossed approximately $205 million globally — far short of its production budget. While some analysts point to audience fatigue with live-action remakes and the controversial use of CGI for the Seven Dwarfs as key factors, others highlight the polarizing public discourse surrounding the film’s cast. Rachel Zegler, who played Snow White, faced criticism for calling the original 1937 film “dated” and labeling the Prince character a “stalker.” Meanwhile, Gadot’s portrayal of the Evil Queen drew scrutiny for her vocal pro-Israel stance, which reportedly led to protests during her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony and prompted Disney to increase her security detail.
Despite tensions rumored between the two leads, Gadot praised Zegler during her interview, emphasizing their collaborative rapport: “We laughed and we talked, we had fun.” Yet the narrative around the film remains deeply entangled in real-world conflict. Public records show that Disney executives were under intense pressure to manage the fallout, with internal communications indicating concerns about brand alignment amid global protests. Even the film’s director, Marc Webb, has since refrained from commenting publicly on the controversy.
What’s clear is this: in an era where every artistic choice is scrutinized through a political lens, even a fairy tale can become a battleground. Gadot’s retraction isn’t just about optics — it’s a reflection of how artists navigate identity in a hyper-polarized world. As she noted, “Success is never guaranteed.” But when fame collides with geopolitics, the stakes are no longer just about box office numbers — they’re about survival, authenticity, and the right to be seen as more than a symbol.
So here’s the real question: Can a fantasy film ever truly escape the weight of reality? One thing’s certain — the story behind Snow White is far stranger than any magic mirror could reveal.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post
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