Fact-checking viral image: Was Gal Gadot’s Walk of Fame star destroyed after protests at her ceremony?

The confusion arose after a photo showing a damaged star with a hammer beside it went viral on social media, sparking speculation about an act of vandalism targeting Gadot’s newly unveiled star. This assumption was fueled by the controversy surrounding her Walk of Fame ceremony, which was disrupted by both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel protesters. Demonstrators gathered before the event, holding signs and chanting slogans, causing delays. Law enforcement was present to manage the crowd, though no arrests were reported, according to a spokesperson from the Los Angeles Police Department.

While Gadot’s ceremony did face disruptions, the viral image of a damaged star is entirely unrelated. Instead, it is part of a creative marketing stunt for Tate McRae’s upcoming album, So Close To What. The singer unveiled her tracklist by featuring song titles on a replica of a Hollywood Walk of Fame star. The damaged star, which was never officially part of the Walk of Fame, was used symbolically to generate buzz for her album release.