Israeli actress and Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot struggled to hold back tears Wednesday night as she delivered an emotional warning about the growing acceptance of antisemitism, questioning how much further hatred against Jews could spread while the world looks away.
Speaking at the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s annual Humanitarian Award Dinner at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Gadot became visibly emotional as she reflected on the October 7 Hamas massacre and the wave of antisemitism that followed.
“I didn’t expect to get emotional,” she told the audience, pausing to regain her composure. “I’m sorry.”
Gadot then delivered a warning about the normalization of Jew hatred.
“I’m frightened by how quickly hatred of Jews is spreading — and how openly it is expressed and accepted,” she said.
The Israeli actress questioned what happens when society becomes so accustomed to antisemitism that people no longer feel compelled to challenge it.
“Since the Oct. 7 massacre and the war that followed, I have found myself asking how far this can go. If people get used to hearing and seeing hatred and looking the other way, then where does it end?”
Gadot, who has repeatedly defended Israel and spoken publicly about her Jewish identity since October 7, also emphasized the importance of influential figures refusing to remain silent.
She singled out Israeli-born entertainment executive Ynon Kreiz, the newly appointed co-CEO of Skydance, who was receiving the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s 2026 Humanitarian Award.
“What gives me hope is that people like Ynon aren’t wavering,” Gadot told the audience.
She praised Kreiz for standing up against antisemitism despite the pressures facing public figures in the entertainment industry.
“He’s standing firm. He feels what our community is going through. He’s sticking up against antisemitism,” she said.
Gadot described his leadership as a source of encouragement during a difficult period for Jewish communities worldwide.
Kreiz, the former CEO of Mattel, echoed her concerns when accepting his award, warning that criticism of Israel must never become justification for antisemitism.
“Disagreement with the policies of the Israeli government cannot become an excuse for the hatred of Jews,” he declared.
The evening brought together prominent Hollywood figures, including David Ellison, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Jerry Bruckheimer. Former Hamas hostage Noa Argamani, rescued by Israeli forces in June 2024, was also in attendance.
Gadot is additionally helping bring the fight against antisemitism to the screen. She and her husband, Jaron Varsano, are producing a film adaptation of Don’t Feed the Lion, a novel by journalists Bianna Golodryga and Yonit Levi exploring antisemitism among young people.
For Gadot, Wednesday’s appearance was another example of her willingness to speak publicly about her Jewish identity and the challenges facing Jewish communities, even when doing so comes at a personal and professional cost.
Her message was clear: The danger is not only the spread of antisemitism, but the possibility that society will become accustomed to it.
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