Just a reminder that we’re still getting magazine covers from the pre-quarantine era. Gal Gadot covers the May issue of Vogue because she was supposed to be promoting Wonder Woman: 1984, but the film got pushed back and the bulk of the interview was done months ago. Still, it was nice to see this cover and cover story. The cover is… a look. I feel bad that the image seems a bit off, but it’s not terrible and it’s not like Vogue did her dirty. You can see the full Vogue interview here. Some highlights:
Coming from Tel Aviv to LA: “I will always feel foreign in L.A.. You can’t walk anywhere here. You know what I like about home in Israel? Everything is five minutes away. Five minutes walking to the gelato place, five minutes to the beach, five minutes to our cousins’ house. And all of our neighbors are our friends. But there’s always give-and-take. How do you say in English? Eat the cake and leave it whole? Eat the cake and…. There’s something with a cake.”
She feels like she needs to be more than just an actress: “Just . . . inertia… We’re living in a world where everything is by titles: You are a writer; I am an actress. I don’t want to sound too New Age–y . . . but we’re always evolving and changing, and life happens and takes us in different directions. Yes, I am an actress, but at the same time, I have this appetite to do more—bigger, deeper, more interesting.”
Ambition & karma: “Yeah, I’m pretty ambitious. I’m not elbowy . . . if you say that here. But I’m a big believer in karma, and if it’s mine it’s mine, and if it’s not it’s not. I’m not fighting for things. But when I’m there, when I’m facing the opportunity, I’m completely onboard. I definitely make sure to be prepared, to do the work, to come in 100 percent and go for it.”
When she found out she booked Wonder Woman: She told her husband, “‘After I shoot the movie? I want us to have another baby.’ … It’s like the more successful I get, the more I want to plant my roots in and make sure everything is balanced and still focused on the important things in life, which, for me, is family.”
How she feels about the young female fans of WW: “They care. It had an effect on them; it meant something to them. And just because of that, I care for them, and I want to hear what they have to say. Often it’s about a profound effect that it’s had on their life. Usually it’s that it triggered them to make a change, to do something they would never do, to be courageous.”
Life in quarantine: “Obviously the circumstances are horrible and frightening, but we’re home and we’re trying to make the best of it—to enjoy the quality time. It’s so surreal. I’ve never been through times like these. But I’m also full of hope for when it will be behind us….We try to avoid watching the news when [the children are] around. So right now that’s the situation. We’re trying to enjoy the quality time that we have. The girls are not worried. They feel safe. I think the girls are going to grow up being able to tell their kids that they lived through the corona times. But we’re really trying to…how do you call it? Um…there’s a saying. Let me see if I can get it…Um…It’s like…something in disguise? Blessing in disguise.”
Yeah, it doesn’t feel like a blessing in disguise, it just feels like a tragedy which will upend our lives for months and years, not only with the actual virus and deaths, but with the recession and unemployment and political chaos. I realize Gal was speaking as an optimist and speaking of her own personal silver lining (more time with her family), but a tad tone-deaf. But again, English is her second language and she struggles with English idioms (the cake thing was adorable). I also like the word “elbowy” to talk about ambition. Maybe she can create some English idioms of her own!
Cover and IG courtesy of Vogue.
I need celebrities to stop speaking out about corona. I get for them inside their privileged bubble, this feels like they’re being punished and the danger is far away. But thousands of people are dying Gal! Painful deaths, alone. Millions are unemployed petrified of how they’ll pay rent. It’s not a f-ing blessing. Please stfu.
I agree. Even those celebs who are acting all involved and donating to charity, in the end they all live in a privileged bubble which allow them to keep cracking jokes on their socials as nothing happened. So you can’t tell if they did donate because they really want to help or to show off and get publicity. Maybe I’m cynical, but I don’t believe for one sec these rich privileged people really get how tragic the situation is for common people.
On the other hand, if we can somehow remember they can see the bottom of the canals in Venice for the first time in 100 years…the air in Los Angeles is cleaner, as is the air in China. So, if we can learn and somehow understand we need to wean ourselves off fossil fuels so future generations can live well….their sacrificed lives can be somewhat honoured. The earth can heal from the degradation we force upon it, and COVOID-19 is the proof in the pudding.
And whilst celebrities may now live in a privileged bubble, they didn’t all grow up in one. Gal served time in the Israeli army, so she’s had a taste of life unbubbled. Also, as I read the story, she didn’t bring it up. “I refuse to answer your question because any response I make will be invalid as currently I live in a bubble” ….is that really how you want Gal…any celebrity really- to respond? I thought she did fine.
Yeah, I think she got a bit lost in translation in the last paragraph, I suppose she meant she tries to make the most of the situation, but it’s certainly not a blessing in disguise. (I can attest I thought it was “in the skies” for years – not a native English speaker)
There are nice things when you are home all the time. But we are not home, we are home in a time of a pandemic.
I agree, I think she was saying that they’re trying to make the best of the situation and appreciate the time with their kids, and chose the wrong phrase. Which is something a lot of people have said, and it’s OK to feel that way, and to also be scared and anxious and angry.
In context, I got what she was saying, but isolated as a headline it does sound tone deaf.
I get this sense from celebrities that what they’re really saying is “it’s nice that someone has forced me to take a vacation. Because Hollywood expects so much of me, to be working 24/7, and now I have a government mandate to not work so much, and it’s like I’m finally able to take that vacation that I kept putting off.” Like they’re just so thrilled that they have a legitimate reason to stay home and spend time with their spouse and children, to not get dressed or put on makeup, to play in the pool, to read books and practice their yoga or spirituality or whatever. Because that’s what this is for them. They’re super isolated from reality. They have people to do the hard stuff for them like cook, clean, and grocery shop. They have more than enough money to be able to not work for a year or more and have literally nothing about their life change. They’re making zero sacrifices. And there’s always this undercurrent of “being a celebrity is SO MUCH WORK, with the hours with my glam squad and the traveling around for promotional tours and having to talk about myself and my work in interviews. It’s so nice to get a break from that super hard work.” There’s a difference between being busy, which is what I think celebrities often are, and “hard work.”
I already mentioned here my distaste for her based on briefly knowing her and her husband (he’s a sweetheart actually) back when they lived near my work.
Anyway, this interview along with the “imagine” video make me dislike her even more. She’s just so hollow and cringey.
I would love to hear more about this! (If you want to retell – no pressure)
Ha yeah i talked about it before. Her husband used to owe a luxury bed and breakfast for the rich near the gallery/cafeé I worked for.
Long story short, she used to bring her kid (she had one daughter then) to our place. The kid would destroy shit and we would ask her to pay attention to her. Gal would ignore us and let her daughter loose near thousands of dollars worth of artifacts. Her husband would come in and apologise.
We also used to make events and host local celebs. Let me just say that her “girl power” persona and “i wish there were no armies and i want peace” bs, is just a good pr work.
Anyway there’s a lot more but won’t bore you.
@Dee I’ve suspected the “girl power” and anti-war sentiments were not authentic. If you don’t mind sharing, what experiences made you feel that way too?
@Dee
Definitely not bored! I love juicy tales about celebs and their true natures.
Yikes! Thank you, I do love a juicy celebrity in real life story. I’m not surprised, at all!
@GE she comes from a family that we call here “ultra right wing”. Very much pro the idf to the point of justifying all their actions. One time she was talking about how we should never even investigate our soldiers. Even if there’s serious evidence against them because “we don’t know what these Palestinians did to cause it”. Her husband Yaron is very liberal and I actually got to speak with him many times. He’s pretty friendly to the workers and respectful…she isn’t.
Again there are other things but ughh…she really makes me sick and I find the ww role wasted on her cause she can’t even act. But here we are. I’m sure some of my fave celebs are probably horrible in real life too lmao. Thank god I’m not meeting Charlize Theron any time soon.
wow Dee, what was some tea, I always felt her ‘girl power’ persona and I’m a POC was smokes and mirrors.
I always felt completely off about her.
I don’t know if the husband deserves a pass though. I tend to think that, if you’re willing to marry and have kids with someone, you are okay with what they believe.
I thought people were overreacting but after your comment, I’ll join the voices here: tone deaf, shallow rich woman.
No blessings here. My business is for events, and so I no longer have a business, and no idea when there will be events again. People in my industry are claiming it will be back this summer. I think that’s magical thinking. I’m losing everything I have, but I feel that as long as I don’t lose someone I love, I will make it to the other side. I just don’t believe the other side is coming any time soon. Frankly, I don’t think we can truly reach the other side with this president in office. We need mass testing, MASS testing, including mass testing for antibodies, and we aren’t going to get it.
I did finally start a political blog that will also sell political merch I design. (dem only). I’m a writer and very creative by nature. So at least that will keep me sane, as I lose everything I own and may (probably) have to move. At least I do have someone I can move in with. And I’ll rebuild eventually. But a blessing in disguise? Oh, no. No. Not at all.
What’s the name of your blog? I’d love to check it out!
Hi Marcel, in another week, I will say, I am just still putting finishing touches on it. Thanks for the interest! It makes me feel good. 🙂
Sending virtual hugs, Darla. We are turning to our creatives to entertain us on TV and online while we’re all stuck inside but it is those very creatives and those who work with them who saw their work and their necessary income from it come to a screeching halt fast. One of my sisters ushers at several Boston theater and concert venues. She has a “day job,” that she can telework and still have a salary and benefits so she’s okay without the extra money she picked up from those venues but she has many friends, other ushers, people who work on lighting, sound, stage, and costumes in those venues who rely on those jobs for their sole income to pay their rent, buy their food, pay their other bills, and she’s really worried for them.
Wishing you all the best! I hope things work out for you!
@ Darla. Yes. I am in a similar boat (sole proprietorship) and have about enough for 6 mos or so business rent. Still in contact with a handful of clients online. But here is what I came to say…please post the name of your blog (eventually) as I am interested too. Also I am stoked about you selling Democratic merch! I just bought t shirts and hats from Adam Schiff which are really nice (not cheap) from his campaign. I figure he is working his butt off. I can contribute to him. A nice bonus is the merch is all “made in the USA” and by union workers.
Like you, I have a very small business (sole proprietorship) and we live month to month, with the occasional boost of a job sale. We lost 3 clients on Monday, March 23rd as they all realized they couldn’t keep their businesses running. Boom. We lost revenue when clients closed shop as well because we don’t invoice for work we don’t do, so whilst they may come back to us, who knows for sure? On top of the worry, I have one, three/quarter time employee with a special needs husband (brain injury) and herself and her two daughters all suffer from anxiety disorders. My employee is the breadwinner of their family, and of course, she will be paid before I am. So, yes, am terrified also. But I do see some good things coming out of this time, bigger picture. I try not to let my fear rule me, and I strive to hold on to hope, sometimes hourly is all I can manage
Getting cool girl vibes, with a spoonful of tone-deafness and a hint of vapidness.
This horror show is really uncovering the economic injustice of these hollow people living dream lives when really creative and profound people are struggling.
Well, we’ll see how well they do in the future. I will likely never go to a movie again. I used to go all the time in my 20’s! One of my favorite things to do was to go to afternoon, weekend, matinees by myself. What a great feeling. I wasn’t lonely, the opposite, so that was my time to steal when no one could find me or know where I was. It was almost magical. But these past few years, I rarely went. Just for the big spectacle movies, like Marvel, and ironically, Wonder Woman. I won’t go see Wonder Woman. I would have been first in line before this. No way. You won’t see my ass in a movie theater this year, or frankly next year either. Who knows what’s going to happen. once trump reopens everything without mass testing in place, and the bodies begin to really pile up, we’ll see who’s going to the movies.
Maybe they’ll bring back drive-ins. Or maybe, these spoiled brats are going to be taking big pay cuts and be far less relevant than they have been up to now.
When and if I am financially stable again my motto is to support indie films, books by experimental authors, poetry, artists who are under-represented and exposed for whatever reason. We need art. I won’t be giving money to these brats for sure unless I am positive that they are good kind people who got lucky. Like Taika Waititi!
I work in art and hopefully Academia after my PhD and although I now have work, I don’t know how I’ll make it to September…
Agreed – all the celebrities seem so vapid and their existence seems pointless these days.
Both myself and my husband are privileged to be able to work from home. But not as privileged as these two: privileged enough to both not work and not be stressed. We have 2 very young kids, and our work hours overlap – but we’re not getting work done while watching so there’s catch up at odd hours. There’s no quality time! It’s survival between emails. We just pray for decent weather so we can at least go outside. My contracts up in June so I have no idea what will happen to our finances as it’s doubtful anyone will be hiring. It’s stressful and the kids can feel our strain. I’m happy others are able to balance better but somehow there’s less quality time than before.
It’s such a blessing in disguise. I haven’t seen my husband in person in three weeks as he is living in a neighbor’s pool house to not spread anything that he might have picked up at the hospital with us. I have a very cranky two year old and three college aged step kids who are going absolutely stir crazy. All this while I’m attempting some sort of horribly outdated Zoom trial where the judge keeps logging out because he’s 80 and can’t figure out how to use a computer. But you enjoy your blessing in disguise, Gal.
Hey Flamingo, hope things will get better for you soon. Stay safe <3
Meh. I’m more upset with folks whining about how shutting churches is religious persecution. Or the statistics are inflated and this isn’t that bad a disease. Or that “I’ll take a vaccine for this over my dead body” because the Government cannot control me like that and they are gonna use the vaccine to chip us and it’s an invasion of my privacy because something something Bill Gates is the devil something something George Soros.
I can’t even get outraged that Gal is looking to make lemon out of lemonade and find the bright side in a scary situation she can’t control. This isn’t even the most tone deaf statement from a celebrity.
The church people are dangerous. And most of their tirades on social media contain messages of intolerance because they claim only Christians are being persecuted while no mosques were forced to shut down. Except all places of worship are closed in those areas were the “no gathering” orders are in place. Mosques and Temples and churches of the non-evangelical persuasions are all closed. Pastors who care about their flocks have switched to online services. The Cardinal here ordered all Catholic churches closed a month ago and there are plenty of on-line options. Nothing is stopping those idiots from praying.
I have to agree. And the businesses that are still open, like my husband’s and my father’s, who are completely out of touch with just how serious this pandemic is and requiring their employees to continue to work in the office despite the fact that all of their work can be done from home. And then, telling the very few employees that do work from home, if they have trouble with a program, they must come into work and make up those hours. It’s ridiculous and I worry about both every day. Imagine the lawsuits that are going to occur after this. My mother has already said if anything happens to my dad (he’s high risk), she’s going to lawyer up. Assholes.
Gal Gadot is the least of my concerns at the moment.
Nicole- ugh. Where are you? I’m in CA and under our stay at home order, this wouldn’t be allowed. Office work is all remote now.
That being said, my brother-in-law is still working (Blue Diamond Almond factory) and I’m greatly concerned about him, especially since he and my sis have a 15 month baby at home. I understand your worry, and hope your dad and husband stay safe.
I agree, those are the people I’m mad at here. The people yelling about their rights and their religions, the bosses making people come to non-essential work, the people spreading lies and conspiracy theories.
I did a virtual get together with friends last night, and one lives in a town where people are ignoring the rules because of their religion, continuing to gather, and racking up big numbers of cases and deaths. She’s terrified to go out for groceries.
I find it very scary when they say if they die it will be Gods will. If they didn’t leave their house to go to church, there’s a good chance they would live and not die. I think these people who are going out are purposely harming others, and should be penalized and possibly do jail time for that.
English isn’t her first language, so I’m not going to hold this one against her. I think she just meant she’s trying to make the best of a bad situation, which is okay. She seems like a sweet and optimistic person, if not a bit out of touch, but that’s far from being the worst kind of celebrity.
Look, I understand the urge to “look on the bright side” and see the benefit of not having millions of people trampling over every square inch of the planet. Air quality is better, wildlife has returned to places – hell, you can even hear more birdsong.
But there is absolutely no way to phrase it in which you don’t come off sounding like a tone deaf asshole, especially when you’re doing time in your mansion somewhere while normal people are just trying to survive day to day. So, best practice – just stop. Acknowledge your privilege and just leave it at that. For reals.
Gal is really batting 1000 when it comes to this pandemic.
What we’re going through is a tragedy. I am trying to look on the bright side in the smallest of ways— but even a bit of good is not worth all that has been lost.
My best friend started grad school this year in engineering. It was more than he could handle and he fell apart, getting depressed for the first time in his life. He was working all the time but couldn’t catch up after being in the work force for six years. Because of coronavirus, he was able to drop a class he would have otherwise failed- with, which some other bad grades, may have meant he would have to drop out. He said he’s relieved but that by no means were the circumstances worth it, and he would trade all of this never happening if he could.
I was ready to be angry, but I understand what she is trying to say. “Blessing in disguise” was the wrong phrasing. She should have used “silver lining.” I have said that a silver lining to all of this awfulness and chaos and tragedy is that I am working from home and get to see my 4 month old baby throughout the day. The cake thing was adorable.
I think we expect too much from our entertainers. Just because they are famous doesn’t make their opinions or thoughts wiser. Not to sound mean but most entertainers aren’t typically the most highly educated, which doesn’t make them less smart, but they’re high school drop outs, they never pursued a path of higher education or spent their lives in anything other than entertaining. Most spent their childhoods singing at fairs and festivals, acting in whatever shows or modeling. Gal was a pageant queen turned model then found fame pretending to be a superhero. And then they are thrust into the spotlight and have an automatic platform and are asked about things like politics or Coronavirus and then if they come up with a less than smart or articulate answer, we pour into them because we expect more. It’s too harsh on them. Ask them the question and accept whatever opinion they have but if you want a smart and informed answer to anything, might be better to read the newspaper.
YES! Not sure why people hang onto every last word and action of a celebrity and hold them to some higher standard? These are largely uneducated people who have generally little awareness of the world, its people, and social/political/economic topics. I know this website is more of a gossip site, but why the need to dissect every interview and choice of words of these people? They have gotten by on their good looks and acting/artistic talent. What is there to analyze?
Not a great choice of words, but I do understand what she’s trying to say.
I am also trying to find the silver linings where I can. I’m getting to spend more time with my kids, especially my eldest son who goes to college (hopefully) in the fall. That has been wonderful and I am grateful for this extra time. I took a massive pay cut and do not know right now how I’m going to pay my taxes and my bills, but…forcing the family to live on less and only buy what is essential will be a good thing (and I’m grateful to have a job at all, of course, and my pay cut should save the jobs for my coworkers). None of that rationalizes ANY of this – it’s horrible and scary as hell. But trying to find something positive in all of this awfulness is a coping mechanism for many of us.
I didn’t know English was a second language for her, I had assumed Israelis learn English growing up just like many Western European and Scandinavian countries. But not knowing the “eat your cake and have it too” idiom pushes home the point that she just doesn’t know the right phrases sometimes.
Israelis do learn English but not really until later grades and Hebrew is SO different. Different sounds, structure – so usually their English is not on the level of a European. My husband is Israeli and I have been there quite a lot.
I love the cover, I think it’s very striking. I don’t really find anything that she said too distasteful. I’ve heard so many people say that they’re hoping this pandemic turns out to be a blessing in disguise because they are getting to reconnect with old friends and family via Zoom dates, pick up hobbies they’ve always wanted to pursue, read books that have been collecting dust, etc. We can empathize with people who are in situations that are worse than ours while also trying to stay positive about our own circumstance.
She doesn’t seem very educated. And that’s not the language barrier either. She’s perfect as WW but that doesn’t mean Gal the actress should be regarded as a role model.
And there’s a way to be grateful and optimistic in this situation without sounding like a rich d*ck.
Im…not of fan of Gal. I love her as Wonder Woman and I think she’s fantastic in the role. But some of things she has said in the past pre-Wonder Woman stay with me. Her image has been whitewashed quite a bit since she got the role. She said some really $hitty things about Palestinians. I know she is Israeli but there is a definite since in the things she said that were horribly bigoted and amounted to the idea that Palestinians dont have the right to exist or have land. So yeah…I will watch her as Wonder Woman but she will forever get side eye from me as herself.
English is my second language and I would never use the “a blessing in disguise” expression to describe it. Maybe this pandemic is a blessing for the bat population of the world as people I hope will be more cognizant that eating them will unleash a deadly virus. I don’t dislike her but I have to state that Ms. Gadot is not as beautiful as Linda Carter back in her day.
These celebs really need to shut it. It’s okay to look for the positive in things, but to say this is a blessing? No. No it is not.
Pastors encouraging their members to go to church are very dangerous people. I find it very scary when they say if they die it will be Gods will. If they didn’t leave their house to go to church, there’s a good chance they would live and not die. I think these people who are going out are purposely harming/killing others, and they should be penalized and possibly do jail time for that.
Celebrities live different lives than we do. It’s a different mindset. That’s just a fact. They have millions in the bank, we don’t. Celebrities need to tread very lightly right now. I can see where they’re coming from, the don’t mean harm. In their minds, they want to help. But before this turns into The French Revolution II, they should take a step back and think before posting on Instagram and Tik Tok. Or agreeing to interviews in Vogue. 🙂
We need a French Revolution II, for yesterday.
Well. I vacillate between holding back tears and panic attacks and truly enjoying moments with my young kids. So I can see where she’s coming from, even if she shouldn’t have said it.
Why shouldn’t she have said it? Because she’s a celebrity? You’ll have to forgive me if I’m not jumping on the pitchfork bandwagon here. I agree with others that “silver lining” is far better wording, but she’s not wrong.
Yes, people are dying. Yes, the impact of this is going to be felt for years to come. But this is also going to be the catalyst for so many changes we have needed for a long time, and I can’t say I’m upset at the wonderful effect this is having on the earth itself.
And before I hear all about my privilege, yes, I’m lucky enough to have a job to continue to go to every day, but my job is also in the healthcare realm, so I’m not as “lucky” or “out of touch” as many are going to assume. And yes, I have been touched personally by COVID 19, thank you.
Tl;dr. Yes, there is bad, but yes, there is also good. The wording could use some work, but she’s not wrong.
Thank yoooouuu! @Itteh Bitteh
Yeah, I’m gonna pile on. Rich woman in a protected bubble needs to stfu and get a clue. Awful.
I’ll pile with ya. Another day, another tone deaf celebrity. This pandemic may truly be the fall of celebrity worship.
OK, so if someone is asking you in an interview about what life is like in the times of coronavirus, what should she have said? My life sucks? This is the worst? I’m totally unaffected? What would we have wanted her to say here? Genuinely curious. Cause it sounds like people are already hating on her and this is just b*tch eating crackers.
I think she mixed up her idioms, but she could have been complaining about being stuck at home with her family, or said a lot of other things that are way more insensitive. Of course she’s coming from a privileged perspective. In this season there seems to be no right answer for a celebrity to say in an interview, which is part of their job. Perhaps magazines should just stop publishing the interviews with their photos previously captured and just… publish the pretty pictures?