- Disney’s live-action Snow White movie is banned in Lebanon
- The film was released on 21 March to mixed reviews
- It stars Gal Gadot and Rachel Zegler – but why is it banned?
Snow White is banned from movie theatres in Lebanon. The live-action Disney movie, which was released on 21 March, does not have a good reputation. To begin with, the film cost $209 million and has only made $82 million at the domestic box office so far, resulting in a huge loss. Additionally, the film’s stars, Rachel Zegler, who plays Snow White, and Gal Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen, have been embroiled in controversy.
Zegler, 23, has been slammed for comments made about the original film being outdated and the prince ‘stalking’ her character. She has also been outspoken with her political views and the Free Palestine movement.
In August 2024, Zegler posted on X, “And always remember, free Palestine.” She responded to her post about the trailer for Snow White with this comment, which sparked backlash.
and always remember, free palestine.
— rachel zegler (she/her/hers) (@rachelzegler) August 12, 2024
On the 7 October, the day of the Hamas-Israel attacks, Gadot, 39, posted a star of David on her Instagram and said, “I stand with Israel”. In addition to that occasion, the Wonderwoman star has spoke in support of her country multiple times.
Read more: Who is Snow White’s Andrew Burnap?
Gadot is controversial in the eyes of her public for her support of Israel and its military. She served in 2005 at age 20. However, these are not the reasons that Lebanon banned the movie. Keep reading to find out why.
Why was Snow White banned in the country?
The film was not banned for its content, it was banned because of its star’s political affiliation. According to Variety, the ban was due to Gadot and her association with Israel. Also, the ban was not the work of theatres but the Interior Minister of Lebanon, Ahmad Al-Hajjar.
But Al-Hajjar did not make the decision alone – reports say he was urged to by media watchdogs in the country following attacks made by Israel on Hezbollah.
Here is where it gets interesting, conflicting reports say that it wasn’t Gadot in the film that got it banned, just the fact that she was already on Lebanon’s ‘Israel Boycott List’.
This was told to the outlet by someone who works for Italia Films, who distribute films in that area of the world.
Interestingly, Snow White is not the first film to be banned in the country because of the boycott list. Reportedly, they banned 2018’s Wonder Woman, Steven Spielberg’s The Post, and Jungle for associations with Israel.
