On Sunday, Gal Gadot stepped into the spotlight at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, to promote her new film Snow White.
As the Evil Queen in the highly anticipated live-action remake, the 39-year-old Wonder Woman star posed alongside a lineup of notorious Disney villains, including Maleficent, Hades, and Jafar.
The event was filled with playful photo ops, where Gal also snapped a selfie with Mickey and Minnie Mouse, adding a touch of Disney magic to the day.
Dressed in a sleeveless burgundy dress, Gal stunned the crowd with her chic look.
Her brunette hair cascaded in light waves, and her dangling earrings added the perfect finishing touch.
The actress was all smiles, but the behind-the-scenes drama surrounding the film’s production continued to simmer.
A Tense Premiere and Growing Rumors of Feuds
Just a day before her Disneyland appearance, Gal attended the scaled-back premiere of Snow White at LA’s El Capitan Theatre.
The premiere came after a series of controversies surrounding the film’s messaging, with critics accusing it of focusing more on its “woke” agenda than authentic storytelling.
On top of that, rumors about a feud between Gal and co-star Rachel Zegler have been swirling, making the already tense atmosphere even more charged.
While the two actresses posed together for photos, eagle-eyed fans quickly noticed something off about their interactions.
One person commented on social media, “Those are some bad, fake, forced smiles; none of the smiles are reaching their eyes.” Another added, “Guarantee the smiles dropped as soon as they were done with the picture.”
The tension was palpable, especially in a photo featuring the two stars with producer Marc E. Platt, where the comment was made, “He’s holding them back like two wild beasts trying to kill each other.”
Behind the Scenes: A Clash of Views?
The speculation about a feud between Gal and Rachel has been fueled by reports that their relationship is strained, possibly due to their differing political views.
Gal, hailing from Israel, and Rachel have reportedly clashed over their perspectives on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
A source recently told People that the two actresses “have nothing in common,” adding that their conflicting opinions only heightened the tension between them.
While the backstage drama brewed, the film itself has faced backlash over its portrayal of the classic Snow White story.
In response, Disney opted for a low-key screening aimed at local children, which became the focus of the event.
Disney Scales Back Premiere Amid PR Nightmares
In light of the ongoing controversies, Disney decided to scale back the usual lavish premiere celebrations for Snow White.
The company opted for a “handful” of tightly controlled press events to limit difficult questions and media attention.
Instead of a grand press affair, only Disney-approved interviewers were allowed to speak with the cast, including The Little Mermaid voice actress Jodi Benson.
The scaled-back event featured a pre-party celebration, lasting just 90 minutes, and attended by young guests from the Boys & Girls Club chapters of San Fernando and Malibu.
The afternoon screening at LA’s El Capitan Theatre took place at 3:30 pm, with a guest list focused on local children rather than the usual star-studded crowd.
Rachel Zegler Responds to Backlash
During the event, Rachel Zegler, who plays the titular Snow White, briefly addressed the backlash the film has received.
She expressed gratitude for the strong feelings people have about the character, acknowledging, “What an honor to be a part of something for which people feel so much passion.”
However, she also noted that not everyone would agree on the film’s direction, stating that all they can do is give their best performance.
Dressed in a pale pink ballgown with a satin skirt, Rachel mingled with fans dressed as the beloved princess.
As the film’s release date approaches, fans are eagerly awaiting to see how the controversies will play out at the box office.
Snow White will officially hit theaters on March 21, 2025, and only time will tell whether the film’s bumpy journey to the screen will impact its success.