It’s kinda wild how fast the internet can turn on someone. One minute, Gal Gadot is the shimmering, literal embodiment of hope as Wonder Woman. The next, she’s a target for some of the most intense vitriol on social media.
Honestly, the shift didn’t happen overnight. It was a slow burn, then a massive explosion. If you've spent any time on X (formerly Twitter) or TikTok lately, you've likely seen the comments. People aren't just critiquing her movies anymore; they're questioning her character, her past, and even her right to play certain roles.
But why?
The answer isn't just one thing. It's a messy cocktail of geopolitical tension, a truly cringey viral video, and a growing frustration with Hollywood's "casting-by-numbers" approach.
The Imagine Video: When Good Intentions Go South
We have to talk about the "Imagine" video. It’s basically the Patient Zero of the modern Gadot backlash.
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Back in March 2020, as the world was locking down and people were genuinely terrified, Gadot gathered a bunch of her A-list friends to sing John Lennon’s "Imagine." You remember it. It featured everyone from Will Ferrell to Natalie Portman.
The goal was to "raise morale." The result was... not that.
People hated it. Like, really hated it. While regular folks were losing their jobs and worrying about rent, a group of millionaires was singing "imagine no possessions" from their sprawling mansions. It felt incredibly tonedeaf. Gadot later admitted the video was in "poor taste," but the damage was done. It branded her as "out of touch" in a way that’s hard to shake.
The Geopolitical Lightning Rod
This is the heavy stuff. Most of the reasons why do people hate Gal Gadot stem from her background as an Israeli citizen.
In Israel, military service is mandatory. Gadot served two years in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as a combat fitness instructor. For many critics, this isn't just a biographical detail—it’s a political stance.
Whenever tensions flare up between Israel and Palestine, Gadot’s social media becomes a battlefield. In 2021, she posted a message about the "vicious cycle" of violence, calling for peace for "both sides."
- The Criticism: Pro-Palestinian activists accused her of being a "propaganda tool" for the Israeli government. They pointed out she didn't use the word "Palestine" in her post.
- The Reaction: The backlash was so intense she had to turn off her comments.
- The Contrast: While some see her as a national icon in Israel, others see her military service as disqualifying for someone playing a "global symbol of peace" like Wonder Woman.
It’s a situation with zero middle ground. You’ve got one side that sees her as a victim of unfair scrutiny because of her nationality, and another side that views her as an active participant in a controversial military system.
The Cleopatra Casting Controversy
Then there’s the movies. Specifically, the ones she hasn't even finished yet.
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When it was announced that Gadot would play Cleopatra, the internet basically broke. The accusation? Whitewashing.
A lot of people wanted an Arab or African actress to play the Egyptian queen. Gadot countered by saying Cleopatra was actually Macedonian-Greek. She told BBC Arabic that they looked for a Macedonian actress but couldn't find one she felt was right for the part.
"I’m very passionate about Cleopatra," she said. "To me, as a people lover, and I have friends from across the globe, whether they are Muslims or Christian or Catholic or Bruno or Jewish... I just want to celebrate the legacy of Cleopatra."
That "Bruno" line? Yeah, that became another meme. People felt her defense was dismissive of the actual concerns about representation for North African actors in Hollywood.
"Kal-El, No!": The Acting Critiques
Let’s be real for a second. If Gadot was winning Oscars every year, some of this might be ignored. But lately, her actual acting has become a major talking point.
Early on, people loved her in the first Wonder Woman. Her "fish out of water" energy worked perfectly. But as she moved into films like Red Notice, Death on the Nile, and the Wonder Woman sequels, the reviews got harsher.
The "Kal-El, no!" line from Justice League is frequently cited by critics as an example of flat delivery. There’s a growing sentiment that she’s "typecast" as a beautiful, stoic lead but lacks the emotional range to carry more complex scripts.
By 2024 and 2025, with the lead-up to the live-action Snow White, the internet started "rinsing" her line readings from trailers. They compared her performance to a "talking plank of wood." It’s harsh, maybe even unfair, but it’s a huge part of the current narrative.
Is the Hate Fair?
It depends on who you ask.
If you're looking at it from a purely professional lens, she’s a successful actress who had a string of bad luck with a viral video and some mediocre sequels. If you're looking at it through a political lens, she represents a state and a military that many find indefensible.
There’s also the "tall poppy syndrome" at play. When someone becomes as famous and seemingly "perfect" as Gal Gadot, people often look for reasons to pull them down. The "Imagine" video gave them the shovel to start digging.
What to Keep in Mind Moving Forward
If you're trying to navigate the conversation around Gal Gadot without getting lost in the noise, here are a few things to remember:
- Context Matters: Understand that her military service was mandatory, not a career choice, though her continued vocal support for the IDF is what fuels the current debate.
- Separate the Art from the Actor: It's possible to think she’s a mediocre actress while also acknowledging that the political vitriol she receives is often more intense than what her male co-stars face.
- Check the Source: Much of the "hate" is amplified by social media algorithms that thrive on conflict. The "vocal minority" often sounds a lot louder than the general movie-going public.
The reality is that Gal Gadot is a polarizing figure because she exists at the intersection of Hollywood glamour and some of the world's most painful political conflicts. Whether she can win back the "internet" remains to be seen, but for now, she’s staying busy with a full slate of projects, seemingly unfazed by the noise.