Gal Gadot's casting bans "Snow White" in Lebanese theatres
The new live-action version of Disney's "Snow White" will not be released in theatres in Lebanon. The reason for this is the casting of Israeli actress Gal Gadot, who plays the role of the Evil Queen.
The decision to implement the ban was made by Lebanon's Minister of the Interior, Ahmad Al-Hadjar, following a recommendation from the national media and film commission. According to "Variety," these actions are a response to ongoing conflicts involving Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, which have resulted in civilian casualties.
A representative from Beirut-based distributor Italia Films, which handles Disney titles in the region, confirmed that Gal Gadot has long been on Lebanon's "Israel boycott list." To date, no film featuring her has been allowed for distribution in the country.
Gadot, born in Israel and a former soldier of the Israel Defense Forces, is known for her open support for her country, particularly after the Hamas attacks on October 7th. In an emotional speech at the Anti-Defamation League summit in New York on March 4th, she clearly expressed her views. "Never did I imagine that we would witness such a day of such death and destruction of Jews in our lifetime. And never did I imagine that on the streets of the United States, and different cities around the world, we would see people not condemning Hamas, but celebrating, justifying and cheering on a massacre of Jews," she said.
A representative from Italia Films added that, contrary to reports, "Snow White" has not been banned in Kuwait. The ban in Lebanon follows a similar decision two months ago, when the Marvel movie "Captain America: Brave New World," featuring Israeli actress Shira Haas, was not allowed to be screened.
Controversy surrounding the new "Snow White"
The issue with Israel is not the only controversy surrounding the premiere of the new "Snow White." There were also rumors of conflict between the main actresses, Gal Gadot and Rachel Zegler, as well as a public relations crisis after the lead actress made disparaging remarks about President Donald Trump online.
As a result, the movie has received poor reviews online, and box office sales have been far below expectations.
