Israeli Actress Gal Gadot Clarifies Her Snow White Performance: It Wasn’t Just About  Anti-Israel Rhetorics

Hollywood is a world of glitz, glamour, and sometimes, intense discussions. Recently, actress Gal Gadot, famous for her role as Wonder Woman, found herself at the center of such a discussion regarding the live-action remake of Disney’s Snow White, where she played the Evil Queen. The movie, which had a hefty budget, didn’t perform as expected at the box office, leading to many questions. Gadot initially made some comments that sparked headlines, and she later took to social media to clarify her statements, aiming to set the record straight. Let’s dive into the full story.

The Initial Shockwave: What Gal Gadot First Said

It all started during an interview on an Israeli TV show called “The A Talks” on Keshet 12. The hosts asked Gal Gadot why Snow White struggled at the box office, especially considering its massive budget, reported to be around $200 million (other sources cite up to $269.4 million or $270 million).

Gadot’s answer was quite surprising to many. She suggested that her nationality played a role in the film’s failure. She emphasized that she was very confident the movie would be a “huge success” initially. However, she felt things changed after October 7, 2023, and the subsequent war in Gaza. According to Gadot, there’s a significant “pressure on celebrities to speak against Israel” in various industries, including Hollywood.

She expressed disappointment, stating that the movie was “incredibly affected by all of that” and didn’t do well. She mentioned that while she tries to explain the context of what’s happening, ultimately, people make their own decisions. Her initial comments left many wondering if she was solely blaming political tensions for the film’s financial struggles.

Setting the Record Straight: The Instagram Clarification

As you can imagine, these remarks quickly gained international attention and generated a negative reaction. Realizing the widespread interpretation of her words, Gal Gadot went to her Instagram Stories to clarify what she had meant.

She explained that her initial response came from an “emotional place”. Gadot felt that when the film was released, those who opposed Israel criticized her “in a very personal, almost visceral way”. She said, “They saw me ante todo as Israeli, not as an actress. That’s the perspective I spoke from”.

Crucially, she then clarified that she never intended to suggest that politics was the only reason for the movie’s downfall. She explicitly stated, “Of course the film didn’t fail solely because of external pressures”. She acknowledged that there are “many factors that determine why a film succeeds or fails” and concluded by saying, “Success is never guaranteed”. This clarification aimed to soften her earlier claim, emphasizing a broader perspective on film success and failure.

The Numbers Don’t Lie: Snow White‘s Box Office Reality

Let’s look at the financial performance of Snow White to understand the scale of its underperformance. While the production budget was substantial, reportedly between $200 million and $270 million, the film only managed to earn $205.5 million (or $205.6 million) worldwide.

This figure is far from what was needed to break even. Forbes estimated that the movie would need to earn between $540 million and $675 million globally just to cover its costs and marketing expenses. The significant gap between its earnings and the break-even point meant that Disney reportedly lost roughly $115 million on Snow White. These numbers clearly indicate a major box office disappointment, regardless of the reasons.

More Than Just Politics: Other Factors in the Film’s Failure

While Gal Gadot initially highlighted political pressure, the truth is that Snow White faced a barrage of criticism long before and after its release, from various angles. The sources highlight several other factors that contributed to its poor reception:

• Creative Changes: The movie faced considerable backlash for its creative decisions.
• Casting Controversies: The casting choices, particularly of Rachel Zegler as Snow White, drew negative attention.
• Rachel Zegler’s Comments: Rachel Zegler, Gadot’s co-star, herself became a subject of controversy. She previously wrote “Free Palestine” on social media while sharing the movie’s trailer, which reportedly led to a meeting between her and Jewish producer Marc Platt. Her comments were widely discussed and added to the pre-release negativity.
• “Woke” Criticisms: Many viewers and critics labeled the film as “woke”.
• Lack of Dwarfs: The creative decision regarding the “dwarfs” in the story also caused an uproar.
• Overall Film Quality: Once released, the criticism worsened, with many calling the film a “bodrio” (a mess or a dud) and criticizing its CGI.

A Note on Performances and Public Opinion

Interestingly, the public’s perception of the acting also played a part. Some commenters in the sources felt that Gal Gadot’s performance as the Evil Queen was “pésima actriz” (terrible actress) and that she lacked “rango” (range), suggesting she was chosen primarily for her beauty. Some even went as far as to say that Rachel Zegler acted better than Gadot.

When asked about her own acting skills, Gadot humbly described herself as “solid” or “alright”. She admitted that there are “those who are more talented than me,” but emphasized her biggest strengths: her willingness to “work hard” and her determination to “never let anything stand in my way”. She also insisted that she loved working on the project despite the outcome.

The Takeaway

Gal Gadot’s journey through the Snow White controversy highlights the intricate and often unpredictable nature of the entertainment industry. While she initially pointed to external political pressures affecting her work, her subsequent clarification underscores a more nuanced reality: the success or failure of a major film is rarely due to a single cause. It’s a complex mix of creative choices, public perception, marketing, and indeed, sometimes external events, that ultimately determine a movie’s fate. As Gadot herself stated, “Success is never guaranteed”.