Israeli actress Gal Gadot on Sunday issued a clarification after saying in a recent interview that pressure on celebrities to speak out against Israel contributed to the underperformance of her film Snow White at the box office.
On Instagram, Gadot wrote that her earlier comments were made from an emotional perspective. “When the film was released, I felt that those opposed to Israel were judging me personally, almost instinctively. They saw me first as an Israeli, not as an actress. That’s the perspective I spoke from in my response,” she said. She added that the film did not fail solely because of external pressures and that many factors influence a movie’s success.
The clarification followed international media coverage of the interview on Special Interview, a program featuring celebrities interviewed by people with special needs. Gadot had been asked if she was upset that the Disney film, in which she played the Evil Queen, failed. She said she enjoyed making the film and working with co-star Rachel Zegler, who is known for her pro-Palestinian stance. “I was sure this movie would be a huge success,” Gadot said.
She also referenced the impact of the October 7 attacks, saying that in various industries including Hollywood, celebrities often face pressure to speak out against Israel. “I was disappointed that it affected the film’s performance, but that’s how it goes—You win some, you lose some,” she said.
Earlier this year, Variety reported on production challenges surrounding Snow White, starring Gadot and Zegler. Disney, which produced the film with a budget exceeding $270 million, was reportedly concerned about Zegler’s public political posts. Producer Marc Platt flew to New York to discuss the posts with Zegler, who refused to remove them.
The report also noted that Gadot received death threats, prompting Disney to provide close security. While Gadot and Zegler reportedly got along during filming, tensions arose later. After presenting an award together at the Oscars, Zegler referred to Gadot on Instagram as a “professional beauty queen” in a dismissive tone.
Snow White, a live-action adaptation of Disney’s 1937 animated classic, was released in March 2025. It received mostly negative reviews and underperformed at the box office, marking a significant commercial disappointment for Disney.