For the past year, Rachel Zegler—who plays Gal Gadot's opposite in Disney's upcoming Snow White remake—has been outspoken in her support of Palestine, and it has come at a cost.
Gadot, her co-star and the movie's Evil Queen, is a well-known Israeli actor who famously served two years in the Israel Defense Forces before becoming a worldwide celebrity. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the two celebrities disagree on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Their divisive beliefs have transformed their fairytale into a nightmare, according to a piece published in August by The Guardian.
However, Zegler explains in Variety's most recent issue why her position is based solely on compassion and has nothing to do with Snow White and its popularity. October is the month that marks a year since Israel began its military offensive in Gaza against Hamas' October 7 attack, which has resulted in the deaths of 41,689 Palestinians. Zegler is the cover star for the magazine.
For those who are unaware, Zegler's entire "controversy" began in August when, in closing a tweet, she urged followers to "free Palestine" in order to express her gratitude to them for their support of Snow White.
Shortly after, Fox News headlined, "Rachel Zegler stirs more controversy," while Newsweek proclaimed that Zegler and her co-star, Galantis, were on a "collision course." Zegler took the lead in defending Palestine, while BDS demanded that Snow White be boycotted since it stars Galdot.
Zegler said, "I can't watch children die," to Variety. "That shouldn't be a hot take, in my opinion." The actor clarifies that her position is not intended to be a political or religious talking point by saying, "I'm only responsible for what I feel. I'm also accountable for my actions in response to it. Though the terrible events in Israel on October 7 are over a year ago, I have been following this issue for a very long time. The terrible death toll that is emerging from both places grieves me, as it does a great deal of other people.
Zegler's remarks are made during a highly divisive period in Hollywood, where having an opinion on Israel and Palestine can result in negative attention and job loss. She is adamant about supporting Palestinians with her platform in spite of the unavoidable backlash.
She said, "I don't have the answers." "I don't believe that any celebrity voicing their opinions on politics has the solutions. However, we have the ability to post a link for donations so that these folks can receive the funds, attention, and assistance that they require but aren't receiving from those in positions of authority.
Zegler is prepared to shoulder the responsibility that with her significant impact, as the Variety article makes evident. She said, "I'm happy to do it if that means that it can fall upon us to be in power in a way that is helpful."
Zegler sets the bar for how public persons might use their platforms for activism, following in the footsteps of Nicola Coughlan and other notable people who have expressed their opposition to the Gaza conflict. Her comments also put her in an awkward situation, given that Israel-buff Gadot and Snow White are getting ready for release. Zegler thinks the cause outweighs the risk, even if it's unknown how this interaction would appear to the naked eye.
The GSB Hub published this content on 16 Oct,2024.