Lebanese-American former adult actress Mia Khalifa has criticized Gal Gadot, labeling her as “genocide barbie” amidst the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian violence.
Khalifa, a pro-Palestinian supporter, took issue with Gadot’s stance on the recent escalation of the conflict, which has been described as the most intense in almost a decade. As one of Israel’s most well-known actresses, Gadot condemned the conflict on Instagram on May 13, expressing her concern for her family and friends and stating that both Israel and its neighbors deserve to be free and safe nations.
Before her acting career, Gadot served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Khalifa took to Twitter to repost news about the film Wonder Woman 1984 returning to HBO Max, sarcastically referring to Gadot as “Genocide Barbie,” a term that criticizes her neutrality regarding the conflict.
Gadot has faced criticism from both sides, including from Yair Netanyahu, the son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who condemned her “neutral” post. Gadot emphasized in her message that the conflict has been an ongoing vicious cycle, expressing her hope for a solution that allows for peaceful coexistence between Israel and its neighbors. Yair Netanyahu compared Gadot’s neutrality to Switzerland’s historical stance of neutrality.
Other celebrities, such as Lewis Hamilton and Kendall Jenner, who initially posted pro-Palestinian messages on social media, have since deleted their posts. Model Bella Hadid also faced accusations from the official Twitter account of the state of Israel, alleging that she advocated for harming Jews after she attended a pro-Palestinian march in New York.