Politics Hits Hollywood
Gal Gadot Blames Anti-Israel Sentiment for ‘Snow White’ Flop
Israeli actress Gal Gadot discusses how anti-Israel sentiment following October 7 impacted Disney's Snow White performance, leading to estimated losses of up to $200 million.
Israeli actress Gal Gadot has publicly addressed the disastrous performance of Disney’s live-action Snow White, attributing the film’s massive box office losses, estimated between $115 million and $200 million, to widespread anti-Israel sentiment in the entertainment industry.
In a candid interview with Israeli TV program The Talks on Thursday, Gadot reflected on the industry pressures that followed the October 7, 2023 attacks.
“I was confident the movie would be a huge hit,” she said. “Then Oct. 7 happened, and across different industries, not just Hollywood, there was intense pressure on creators and actors to post against Israel. Unfortunately, it affected the film dramatically.”
Gadot emphasized her commitment to providing context about Israel but acknowledged that audiences ultimately make their own judgments.
“I was disappointed that the movie’s reception was so impacted and that it didn’t perform as expected at the box office,” she added.
The controversy surrounding Snow White began months before its March 2025 release, following co-star Rachel Zegler’s social media post expressing support for Palestine. Zegler’s statement, coming shortly after the two actresses appeared together at Disney’s D23 Fan Event, sparked backlash and fueled speculation about tension on set. Gadot dismissed those rumors, stating, “I genuinely enjoyed working with Rachel. We laughed, we talked, and it was fun.”
Beyond geopolitical factors, the film faced multiple creative criticisms. Zegler’s remarks about the 1937 original, describing aspects of the classic as “weird” and the prince as “literally stalking” Snow White, drew ire from fans. Additionally, Disney’s decision to render some of the dwarf characters using CGI rather than casting actors with dwarfism drew unfavorable comparisons to previous CGI missteps in the industry.
Despite the star-studded cast and high production values, Disney’s ambitious remake proved financially devastating. Gadot’s comments demonstrate how political pressures and creative controversies converged to turn one of the studio’s most anticipated releases into a major commercial failure.