Lebanon has taken a principled stand for Palestinian solidarity by banning Disney’s much-hyped Snow White remake from cinemas, citing the inclusion of Israeli actress Gal Gadot in a leading role.
The decision, recommended by Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar and reported by local newspaper An-Nahar, is a direct response to Gadot’s presence on Lebanon’s official boycott list—a list that exists for good reason.
Gal Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen in Snow White, is not just any Hollywood star. She is a former member of the Israel Defense Forces, a military that has been responsible for the ongoing, internationally condemned siege and bombardment of Gaza.
Since October 7, Gal Gadot has used her platform to support Israel’s relentless assault on the Palestinian people, even applauding the breaking of ceasefire agreements to continue the siege.
The controversy around Gadot is not new. Her recent Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony was disrupted by pro-Palestinian protestors, a clear sign that her actions and statements have not gone unnoticed.
In stark contrast, her Snow White co-star Rachel Zegler has publicly supported Palestine, refusing to bow to Disney’s pressure to delete her pro-Palestinian tweets. The political rift between the two actresses has reportedly created tension on set, further highlighting the deep divides that Israel’s actions have sown even in Hollywood.
Snow White opened in U.S. cinemas on March 21, only to flop both critically and commercially. Besides the actors, the film was already under fire for it casting and use of CGI dwarves instead of actual actors with dwarfism long before the premiere.
