Disney’s live-action remake of Snow White has been banned from playing in Lebanese cinemas.
Released last month, the movie is a reimagining of Walt Disney’s 1937 animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
The remake stars Rachel Zegler as the titular character, while her evil stepmother the Queen is played by Gal Gadot.
However, even before it hit screens, Snow White was clouded in controversy, which has only ramped up in recent weeks.
Made on a production budget of $270 million (£203 million), the film has struggled to recoup costs, only making £111 million worldwide to date.
One of the most expensive movies ever made by Disney, the box office flop has now led the studio to put the live-action version of the 2010 animated feature Tangled on ice.
Now Snow White has suffered another blow after it was completely banned in Lebanon.
As reported by Variety, the ban was ordered by Lebanon’s Interior Minister Ahmad Al-Hajjar, who objected due to the presence of Israeli actress Gadot, 39.
According to local media, the politician was ‘prompted to take action by the country’s film and media watchdog amid Israel’s ongoing attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon, which have caused civilian deaths’.
However, a representative for the Beirut-based Middle East distributor Italia Films, which handles Disney titles in the region, told Variety that the actress had long been on the country’s ‘Israel boycott list’.
They added that no movie in which she stars, which have included Wonder Woman and Death on the Nile, have ever been released there.
After the teaser trailer for Snow White was released in August last year, some called for a boycott of the film because of Gadot’s pro-Israel stance.
Before its release she also began receiving death threats, with Disney then providing additional security for her on the press tour.
What other controversies has Snow White faced?
Gadot, who was born in Israel has served in the Israel Defense Forces, has been a vocal advocate for her country, especially in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks by Hamas.
In October 2023 she shared on Instagram: ‘I stand with Israel you should too. The world cannot sit on the fence when these horrific acts of terror are happening!’
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Last month she also gave a speech at the Anti-Defamation League’s annual summit in New York City, where she said: ‘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.’
However, Zegler also found herself facing backlash and was even blamed by some for the movie’s poor performance at the box office.
When the trailer was released, she thanked fans for their ‘love’, before adding on X: ‘And always remember, free Palestine.’
It was reported that Snow White producer Marc Platt flew to New York to speak to her, however she ‘stood her ground’ and refused to delete the post.
However she later issued a statement, which read: ‘Hi everyone, I would like to sincerely apologize for the election post I shared on my Instagram last week.
‘I let my emotions get the best of me. Hatred and anger have caused us to move further and further away from peace and understanding, and I am sorry I contributed to the negative discourse.’
Platt’s son, Jonah Platt went on to defend his father’s actions, posting on social media that Zegler’s actions ‘clearly hurt the film’s box office’.
‘Free speech does not mean you’re allowed to say whatever you want in your private employment without repercussions,’ he shared.
‘Tens of thousands of people worked on that film, and she hijacked the conversation for her own immature desires at the risk of all the colleagues and crew and blue-collar workers who depend on that movie to be successful. Narcissism is not something to be coddled or encouraged.’
Speaking to Variety, Zegler had previously said: ‘I can’t watch children die. I don’t think that should be a hot take.’
A source also told the same publication: ‘She didn’t understand the repercussions of her actions as far as what that meant for the film, for Gal, for anyone.’
Earlier this year Lebanon also banned Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World as it starred Israeli actress Shira Haas.
Metro has contacted Disney for comment.
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