Gal Gadot says Hollywood’s 'pressure' to speak out against Israel hurt 'Snow White' at box office

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Gal Gadot has addressed the underwhelming box office performance of Disney’s live-action 'Snow White'.

The actress suggested that political tensions and pressure on celebrities to denounce Israel after the October 7 attacks played a role in the film’s failure.

Gal Gadot links 'Snow White' box office flop to political scrutiny

In a newly surfaced interview on Israeli television, Gal Gadot expressed her frustration over the underperformance of 'Snow White', which fell far short of Disney’s expectations. “I was sure this movie was going to be a huge hit. And then it happened,” she said, referring to the aftermath of the Hamas attacks on Israel.

Gadot explained that Hollywood became a space of intense political scrutiny, where actors faced demands to take a public stance on the conflict. “There’s pressure on celebrities to speak against Israel,” she noted. “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.”

The actress admitted she was “disappointed the movie was so affected and didn’t succeed at the box office,” adding, “That’s how it goes. You win some, you lose some.”

Reports from the time of the film’s release also suggested underlying friction between Gadot and her co-star Rachel Zegler, who played Snow White.

Gadot, a former Israeli army soldier and vocal supporter of her country, allegedly clashed with Zegler, who has been outspoken in her support for Palestine. These rumored tensions, along with broader political divide among fans, sparked heated discussions online during the movie’s promotional period.

Internet divided over Gal Gadot's comments on box office performance of 'Snow White'

Fans online were split over Gal Gadot's comments and the 'Snow White' flop.

One user said, "Classy answer. Gal is awesome. Forever proud to support and love Israel and the Jewish people."

A person argued, "The movie flop because everybody hates the girl who played Snow White. It had nothing to do with Israel."

Another remarked, "Separate to the anti-Israel issue in Hollywood which is disgusting antisemitism any way you slice it, the remake of Snow White was nothing but woke rubbish & it absolutely deserved to fail at the box office."

One speculated, "Rachel Zegler may have been forced to post those pro-Palestinian posts, perhaps by her agent or publicist."

"You mean the pressure to condemn crimes, the pressure to be a decent human being?" another said. 

One more added, "Another word salad of taking no accountability. These people reject self-reflection."

Disney faces setbacks after 'Snow White' underperforms

The live-action adaptation had been positioned as a major box office contender, but it struggled to attract audiences, reportedly failing to meet its $100 million opening weekend projections. Analysts have pointed to several factors, including casting controversies and the political storm surrounding the film’s stars.

The disappointing performance has also forced Disney to rethink its live-action strategy. According to industry insiders, the studio has paused several upcoming projects, including its highly anticipated 'Tangled' remake.

Despite the backlash, Gadot maintains that she will continue to support Israel publicly. “I can always explain and try to give context about what’s happening here,” she reiterated during the interview. “But people make their own choices.”

Disney and representatives for Gal Gadot have not yet commented on the controversy.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.