Disney’s live-action Snow White has been banned from cinemas in Lebanon due to the inclusion of Israeli actress Gal Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen.
The ban, enforced by Lebanon’s Interior Minister Ahmad Al-Hajjar, is tied to Gadot’s presence on the country’s long-standing Israel boycott list.
Reported first by Variety, the decision to bar the film was influenced by Lebanon’s film and media oversight body. It comes amid heightened tensions in the region, including recent Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon that have resulted in civilian casualties.
A representative for Italia Films, the Beirut-based distributor handling Disney releases in the Middle East, confirmed to Variety that Gadot’s films have never been released in Lebanon due to her inclusion on the boycott list. The representative also clarified that Snow White has not been banned in Kuwait, contrary to some earlier reports.
Gadot, an Israeli citizen and former soldier in the Israel Defense Forces, has been a vocal supporter of Israel.
She delivered a speech in March at the Anti-Defamation League’s summit in New York, where she condemned celebrations of the October 7 Hamas attacks, saying she never expected to witness public support for what she described as a massacre.
This ban follows Lebanon’s earlier decision to block Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World, which stars Israeli actress Shira Haas.
The Lebanese government has historically enforced a strict policy against content featuring Israeli nationals, in line with its political stance and ongoing conflict with Israel.
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