Gal Gadot Says Politics Sank Disney’s Snow White — Here’s What Really Happened
Jordan Collins here. Okay, I’ll explain, but try to keep up. Gal Gadot is blaming anti-Israel sentiment for what she calls the commercial and critical underperformance of Disney’s live-action Snow White, and yes, the remarks are stirring the pot across Hollywood and social feeds.
In a widely shared interview on Israeli television, Gadot — who served in the Israeli Defense Forces and remains a public supporter of her home country — told viewers she expected the film to be a hit and enjoyed working with co-star Rachel Zegler. She argues that everything shifted after October 7, 2023, when Hamas carried out the attack on a music festival that triggered the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Gadot says Hollywood colleagues and the broader public faced intense pressure to condemn Israel, and she implies that her refusal to issue such statements led to backlash that negatively affected the movie’s reception.
Let’s be precise: Gadot’s claim connects the movie’s struggles to geopolitical fallout, and that’s not the only explanation critics and audiences have offered. Snow White did attract controversy before and after release for a mix of reasons. Conservatives criticized the film’s alleged “woke” messaging, and Disney faced heat for using CGI to portray the dwarves rather than casting little people actors, a decision that triggered strong reactions on social media and in entertainment coverage. Meanwhile, Rachel Zegler publicly expressed support for Palestine, which also fueled debate. Industry observers note that other stars who voiced pro-Palestine views experienced career consequences, with Melissa Barrera reportedly losing her Scream franchise role after similar public statements.
Hard numbers are worth noting. Critics were decidedly cool: Snow White holds a 38% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, which is an objective metric demonstrating professional reviewers’ reception. Conversely, general audiences gave the film a 70% audience score, illustrating a significant split between critics and moviegoers. Gadot insists that the film should have been a mainstream success and suggests external political pressures helped doom it.
Now, before you start drafting a manifesto about cancel culture or assigning blame for box office math, consider nuance. Films succeed or fail for a mix of factors: marketing, timing, story and casting choices, the sheen of visual effects, and yes, cultural politics. Gadot’s interview is newsworthy because she’s a high-profile Israeli actress with military service in her past, so anything she says about Israel and Hollywood carries added weight. Her comments were broadcast on Israeli TV and have been widely circulated online, meaning the reaction will reverberate across international media pages and fan communities.
This is also a reminder that public opinion isn’t monolithic. While certain vocal groups criticized the movie for political or creative reasons, other viewers rated it positively. That 70% audience score suggests plenty of people enjoyed it despite critics and controversy. Whether Gadot’s political stance materially cost Disney ticket sales remains a matter of interpretation, but her public assertion guarantees the debate will continue.
So there you have it: Gadot blames anti-Israel sentiment and the post-October 7 environment for Snow White’s troubles, but reality is messier. Creative decisions, online backlash over casting and effects, and polarized critic versus audience responses all played a part. Expect more headlines, more hot takes, and possibly more fallout as industry insiders and audiences keep arguing about where blame really belongs.
Well, now you finally understand.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, Rotten Tomatoes, Public Israeli TV interview (reported)
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
