Movies

Gal Gadot ‘reluctant to ever film in London again’ after antisemitic protests

BBG News

After facing numerous anti-Israel and antisemitic demonstrations during the filming of her latest project, Gal Gadot has reportedly become wary and left with lingering feelings in London, potentially disinclined to return for future productions there.

Actress Gal Gadot, aged 40, is at present filming The Runner, a political thriller, in the UK. However, she has been encountering recurring protests from pro-Palestinian advocates who allege that she endorses “war criminals” due to her previous backing of Israel and her obligatory military service in the Israeli Defense Forces, which they find objectionable.

Based on information from someone connected to the production, it appears that Ms. Gadot has expressed reservations about shooting in London again to her confidants, describing the experience as deeply troubling or traumatic.

According to the source, those involved in making the movie started feeling more and more frustrated due to the magnitude of the disturbances that started this month, and they felt that the authorities were not taking decisive action against the police.

But last week the Metropolitan Police finally took action.

It was verified that five individuals were taken into custody at a filming location in Westminster for trying to cause disturbances during the shooting process. Two of these arrests stemmed from infractions they had already been involved in at prior demonstrations, whereas the other three were due to their activities on that specific day.

Superintendent Neil Holyoak stated that even though we fully understand the significance of peaceful demonstrations, it’s our responsibility to step in when such protests exceed acceptable limits and escalate into significant disturbances or illegal activities.

I’m hoping that today’s action makes it clear we have zero tolerance for any disruptions or illegal intrusions into people carrying out their legal professions in London.

For around twenty consecutive days, protests have been happening, with the participants posting their protest sites on various social media platforms and attempting to obstruct entryways.

As a committed supporter, I recently came across a poster prior to filming in YY London this month, which stated: ‘On previous occasions when the filming location was disclosed, production was effectively halted and activists conveyed their message strongly. We reject IDF soldiers in our city. We refuse to tolerate normalizing war criminals!! Long live Palestine.’

Last month, during her filming on Waterloo Bridge, demonstrators displayed Palestinian flags, posters, and made noise by banging saucepans and blowing horns, as they protested Ms Gadot.

The chants echoed with “Gal Gadot, you can’t escape this,” as the signs displayed messages such as “Gal Gadot Not Wanted in London” and “End the Starvation of Gaza.

Officers from Scotland Yard dispersed the group, but no arrests were made at that time.

The Metropolitan Police representative stated that the recent operation was carried out due to several previous disturbances, primarily connected to the fact that an actress from the production team is of Israeli nationality.

Although Ms. Gadot hasn’t made any public statements about the demonstrations, her actions have led to a broad rebuke from many people.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism has criticized the continuous attacks on Ms. Gadot, a mother of four, stating that this environment mirrors a broader atmosphere of animosity towards Jews in the United Kingdom.

A representative spoke to the Mail and said: ‘We’re glad that those suspected of harassing Gal Gadot and her team during production have been apprehended. It seems that the potential monetary losses from not curbing their abusive behavior has prompted action from the authorities, though it remains unaddressed how they will address the social harm caused.’

It’s uncertain if Ms. Gadot’s potential change of plans in the UK will make a significant impact, given that only about half of British Jews feel comfortable there according to our surveys. The question is, will this action come too late?

This scenario illustrates a foreign Jewish person experiencing discomfort. It’s become clear that advocating for ‘Free Palestine’ extends beyond words. Now, it’s crucial that we take decisive action to address the issue.

Her current filming experience is dramatically different from her past experiences in the UK, particularly during the production of Wonder Woman 1984 in 2018, where filming took place in London without any issues.

Her recent visit takes place amidst rising worries about anti-Semitism in the United Kingdom, where the country is becoming more and more recognized as a breeding ground for hostility towards Jewish individuals in prominent positions.

Ms Gadot has also faced similar protests in the US.

During a ceremony for her Hollywood Walk of Fame in May, protesters interrupted the event by shouting “Shame on Gal Gadot” and waving Palestinian flags. A few days later, someone vandalized her star on the Walk of Fame, writing “Baby killer” and changing her last name to “Greestien,” a misspelled version of her family’s original Jewish name, Greenstein.

Stickers with inflammatory messages like ‘Israeli snipers target children’ were also found.

As an ardent supporter, I’ve observed that the graffiti represents a contemporary reflection of age-old, anti-Semitic stereotypes – a chilling echo of the infamous blood libel.

Ms Gadot’s representatives have been contacted for comment.

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2025-06-04 21:50

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