Calls for boycott of Snow White remake grow over casting of Gal Gadot

Activists have called for a boycott of the Snow White remake after it was announced Israeli actress Gal Gadot will be featuring in it.

Earlier this week, the film’s trailer was slammed by social media users who criticised the choice of casting Gadot in the film.

The Israeli actress, who will be featured as the Evil Queen in the film, has previously expressed support for Israel.

On 7 October, the day Israel launched its war on Gaza following a surprise Hamas-led attack, the actress posted "I stand with Israel" on Instagram.

"The thing about Gal Gadot being cast as an evil queen is that she doesn’t have to act," one social media user wrote, with another adding "reminder to boycott the Snow White movie for Palestine."

"I’m surprised people are saying Gal Gadot is miscast as The Evil Queen, I mean, a villain who isn’t afraid to slaughter innocents because she wants something that isn’t rightfully hers and wants to rule a land she has no legitimate claim to. Sounds perfect casting to me," another user said, alluding to Israeli occupation.  

"Gal Gadot being the evil queen, killing an underage child (snow white) it’s so Zionist of her," one person wrote.

Gadot is not new to controversy and backlash, having previously served in the Israeli army and sponsoring a screening of an Israeli propaganda film promoting its narrative for the war on Gaza in November.

Pro-Palestine co-star

The film has also garnered attention after Gadot’s co-star, Rachel Zegler, who plays Snow White, expressed pro-Palestine sentiment.

On Tuesday, Zegler took to X to thank fans for their response to the trailer.

"Love you all so much! Thank you for the love and for the 120m views on our trailer in just 24 hours! What a whirlwind," she wrote.

"And always remember: Free Palestine," she added, with the comment being reposted over 14,000 times.

Zegler has previously called for a ceasefire as Israel’s war on the besieged enclave rages on and the death toll has exceeded over 40,000.

In January, she took to Instagram to encourage her followers to take action and help call for an end to Israel’s assaults.

"Have you donated today? Have you called your government leaders to put pressure on world leaders to call for a ceasefire? Your activism should go beyond your social media," she wrote in a post.

In May 2021, amidst Israel’s assault on Gaza which killed at least 256 Palestinians, Zegler posted on X: "It will always be free Palestine."

Social media users praised the actress for her pro-Palestine stance, commending her for her posts and demands for a ceasefire.

"Rachel Zegler has not only advocated for Palestine for years now but was one of the few celebrities that’s been consistently amplifying for Palestinian voices and even helped multiple of my Palestinian fundraisers reach their goals. She’s not perfect, but she’s not some scumbag either," one person noted.

"I love Rachel Zegler so bad I can’t even put into words how happy it makes me that she’s using her platform when Palestinians are consistently ignored by celebrities. I have up on asking so many for help, God bless her," another said.

Gadot has been on the receiving end of ire for other films too. In 2020, she was criticised for her role as Cleopatra, with people saying it should have been given to a person of colour instead to be historically accurate.

Israel’s war on Gaza has surpassed its 10th month, plunging the Strip into a deep humanitarian crisis and destroying vital infrastructure, schools, shelters, hospitals and cultural sites.