What’s up?
It’s Emile Ennis Jr. here with Clevver News and remember that cringe worthy celebrity
filled 'Imagine' video from the beginning of the pandemic?
Well, Gal Gadot, who put it all together, finally just responded to the backlash surrounding
the out of touch viral moment.
Alright so take yourself back to March for a second.
I know, no one wants to go back there, it was a very scary, uncertain time, but that’s
when this video went viral and sparked major backlash!
We all thought we’d be in lockdown for only 2 weeks and we started baking sourdough bread,
doing face masks, and rebooking our big trips for the summer.
Little did we know, we were all going to be stuck at home for a lot longer than two weeks...
But regardless, Gal Gadot and some of her A List friends thought they’d come in and
try to lighten the heavy mood.
Gal took to Instagram and shared this video of celebs singing John Lennon's "Imagine"
alongside the caption that read “We are in this together, we will get through it together.
Let’s imagine together.
Sing with us ❤ All love to you, from me and my dear friends.”
“Image there’s no heaven.
It's easy if you try.
No hell below us.
Above us only sky.
Imagine all the people.”
While the video seemingly had good intentions and tried to show unity, the star studded
group received a lot of criticism for being “tone deaf” and “out of touch” given
so many Americans were suffering and losing their jobs.
Asset: screenshots of comments from fans
And now months later, Gal is finally speaking out about the viral video and the criticism
she received for putting it all together.
Gal spoke with Vanity Fair for their November cover issue about the backlash and said she
really did have good intentions with the video, despite how it came off.
She said quote, “Sometimes, you know, you try and do a good deed and it’s just not
the right good deed.
I had nothing but good intentions and it came from the best place, and I just wanted to
send light and love to the world.”
Gal explained that she first enlisted help from her 1984 co-star Kristen Wiig with gathering
famous friends to appear in the video and it spiraled from there.
She said quote, “I started with a few friends, and then I spoke to Kristen Wiig.
Kristen is like the mayor of Hollywood.
Everyone loves her, and she brought a bunch of people to the game.
But yeah, I started it, and I can only say that I meant to do something good and pure,
and it didn’t transcend.”
Gal went on and spoke about her "take-me-as-I-am" attitude, which doesn't always sit well with
others.
She said quote, “Sometimes it can get me in trouble.
There is something that I’ve learned to say, which is, ‘I don’t disagree with
you, but’ — so basically I’m disagreeing with you.
So I adapted.
I just came to the conclusion: I do me, you do you.
I’d rather have you not liking me at this moment than not saying my truth.”
And Gal didn’t only speak about the Imagine video, which has 10 million views and counting
by the way.
She also spoke about what she's been up to since her highly anticipated Wonder Woman
sequel has been delayed due to the pandemic.
Despite her movie getting delayed, Gal said that this time has put a lot in perspective
for her and she’s just been extremely grateful to spend time with her family.
Gal said “In the Jewish culture there’s a prayer that you’re supposed to say every
time you wake up in the morning to thank God for, you know, keeping you alive.
You say ‘modeh ani,’ which means ‘I give thanks. ’
So every morning I wake up and step out of bed and I say, ‘Thank you for everything,
thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.’
Nothing is to be taken for granted.”
Wonder Woman isn’t the only big movie Gal has coming up though.
Earlier this week she also announced on Twitter that she’d be playing the role of Cleopatra
in a new film.
Gal wrote quote “As you might have heard I teamed up with @PattyJenks and @LKalogridi
to bring the story of Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, to the big screen in a way she’s
never been seen before.
To tell her story for the first time through women's eyes, both behind and in front of
the camera.”
While many fans were excited about this news, many others were upset about the casting accusing
Gal of white washing Cleopatra.
According to MSN, there is still quite a bit of debate about Cleopatra’s exact ethnicity,
but fans seem to want someone who’s features better represent her North African and Macedonian
Greek descent.
People have been tweeting things like “Another attempt to white wash a historical figure!
U are a white Isreali woman.
Cleopatra was MACEDONIAN and EGYPTIAN.
It's awful how u deny important roles to women of color!!!!”
And “Gal..
I'm a fan.
As a black, female, Environmental Safety Scientist, this is an EXCELLENT example of why I can't
break into some scientific circles..
#WhiteWashing.
Cleopatra was an AFRICAN Egyptian and was likely of color.”
Others defended Gal’s role writing things like “For the haters, Cleopatra was Macedonian
Greek and a member of the Ptolemaic Dynasty that followed Alexander the Great.
The Macedonian Greek woman, on the left, in this historical photo actually looks a little
like @GalGadot.”
So it will be interesting to see if Gal continues on with playing the role.
She hasn’t spoken out about it again since her announcement, but we will keep you guys
posted if we hear any more about this.
If you want more on Gal Gadot, click right over here for another Clevver News video.
Also, let us know down in the comments what you think of Gal’s response to all this.
I’m your host Emile Ennis Jr., bye guys!