Gal Gadot criticised for not presenting Oscar to Palestinian documentary maker

3 March, 2025

Oscars

Gal Gadot’s presenting at the Oscars has sparked speculation online, after the Wonder Woman star switched categories for an unknown reason.

The Israeli actor presented Best Visual Effects alongside her Snow White co-star Rachel Zegler at the awards on Sunday (March 2) in Los Angeles. However, she had originally been listed to present Best Documentary Feature, which Samuel L. Jackson and Selena Gomez ended up presenting.

Neither The Academy or Gadot have given a reason for the apparent switch, but fans on Twitter have a theory that it may have been to do with the eventual winner, No Other Land.

The film was made by Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers, showing the destruction of the occupied West Bank’s Masafer Yatta by Israeli soldiers and the alliance which develops between the Palestinian activist Basel Adra and Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham.

The acceptance speech for the film was widely praised as it called for peace and criticised America’s foreign policy.

Gadot is an outspoken supporter of Israel amid their conflict in Palestine, having served as part of the Israeli Defence Force in the ‘00s. In 2003, she joined several celebrities in signing an open letter voicing their support for Israel amid the ongoing Hamas war.

Some posts sarcastically wondered why the switch was made. “I guess we know why Gal Gadot got out of presenting Best Documentary,” said one, while another posted: “wasn’t gal gadot supposed to present the best documentary award? why she mysteriously disappeared?”

Others were more vocal in accusing the actor of withdrawing from presenting the category. “Gal Gadot backed out of presenting this! Lol a bad actor and a coward” claimed one, while another guessed: “I thought gal gadot was presenting the oscar for best documentary? I guess she knew no other land was winning and said ‘fuck that’”.

Another took pleasure in the thought of Gadot being in the audience, saying: “Love this. I thought Gal Gadot was presenting this award, which would have been even sweeter, but just winning, with her squirming in her seat on the audience is brilliant”.

Hollywood’s biggest night saw Anora claim five awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress. Host Conan O’Brien mocked nominee Karla Sofía Gascón’s tweeting controversy.

The post Gal Gadot criticised for not presenting Oscar to Palestinian documentary maker appeared first on NME.