Entertainment

“Death on the Nile” Prohibited in Kuwait and Lebanon Due to Gal Gadot’s Israeli Heritage

Because of the “Wonder Woman” star’s prior ties to the Israeli military, the participating nations have decided to boycott the movie.

“Death on the Nile” is set to hit theaters this weekend, but several nations are now boycotting the film at the last minute due to political concerns. The Kenneth Branagh film will not screen in Lebanon or Kuwait, as the countries’ governments have banned the film because of star Gal Gadot‘s ties to Israel.

Gadot is an Israeli native, and the actress and model launched her entertainment career by winning the Miss Israel beauty pageant in 2004. The “Wonder Woman” star grew up in the city of Rosh HaAyin and served for two years in the Israel Defense Forces, as all Israeli citizens are mandated to do. As the Israel-Palestine conflict became more controversial in recent years, she remained a loyal defender of her home country, even when such a position was unpopular. That said, she is far from a radical, even tweeting her support for a two state solution in May 2021. “Israel deserves to live as a free and safe nation,” she wrote. “Our neighbors deserve the same.”

Critics of Israel still labeled Gadot’s relatively moderate stance as an attack on Palestinian sovereignty, and have sought to have her movies censored for years. In 2017, “Wonder Woman” was banned in both Lebanon and Qatar. Lebanon censored the superhero film after facing extreme pressure by the Lebanese group Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel-Lebanon. While the origin of Lebanon banning “Death on the Nile” is unknown, many believe Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel-Lebanon is behind it as well.

Sources say that Kuwait’s ban is due to Gadot’s Israeli military service, rather than her statements. The Daily Mail quoted a source within the government as saying that they would not book a movie starring a former Israeli soldier. Neither Lebanon nor Kuwait requested any edits to the film, they are simply refusing to show it due to Gadot’s presence in it.

While Hollywood occasionally has to deal with Middle Eastern countries censoring American films, studios are generally more concerned with Chinese censorship due to the nation’s authoritarian government and massive audiences. However, “Death on the Nile” has had no problems on that front. The mystery film will open in China next weekend, and the majority of Middle Eastern countries will screen the film this weekend at the same time that it opens in the United States.

Related Posts

Patrimonio neto de Rafael Nadal 2024: premios en metálico, ganancias profesionales, patrocinios y acuerdos de patrocinio de la leyenda del tenis

Rafael Nadal es considerado uno de los mejores tenistas de todos los tiempos, y su cuenta bancaria lo respalda. Con 22 títulos de Grand Slam, ha dominado el…

Taylor Swift Feeling ‘Uneasy’ Over Claims She’s Hogging NFL Spotlight: Travis Kelce Having a ‘Hard Time’

Former NFL star quarterback Brett Favre has taken a swipe at pop sensation Taylor Swift for political reasons ahead of the upcoming 2024 presidential elections. The 11-time Pro…

“Deadpool” Ryan Reynolds was once the target of jealousy from his wife Blake Lively because… a photo with HyunA.

Ryan Reynolds revealed that Blake Lively didn’t like the photo of him hugging HyunA. Ryan Reynolds appeared on the latest episode of Entertainment Weekly to promote his latest…

Nick Jonas gushes over wife Priyanka Chopra’s snaps from Bulgari party in Mumbai, India: ‘Dear God’

After six years of marriage, Nick Jonas still is still in awe of his wife Priyanka Chopra’s beauty.  The Citadel star, 41, shared some snaps and video from a…

Novak Djokovic revela discusiones con su esposa Jelena por las estrictas reglas de crianza para sus hijos

Novak Djokovic, considerado por muchos como el mejor tenista de todos los tiempos, también se enfrenta a retos familiares. A sus 37 años, el campeón de Grand Slam…

Brittany Cartwright Wanted a Revenge Body, Reveals Cosmetic Work Before Jax Taylor Split

Brittany Cartwright has gone through a secret cosmetic procedure. The 35-year-old star of Bravo’s The Valley told DailyMail.com exclusively she had a two hour AirSculpt session – which removes fat…