Gal Gadot breaks silence on her 'Imagine' video that prompted backlash

Watch: The Gal Gadot video that prompted criticism

Gal Gadot has responded to criticism of the viral video of herself and other stars singing John Lennon’s Imagine, saying: “I had nothing but good intentions.”

In the video, which she posted on Instagram in March at the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, the Wonder Woman star sang the intro to the 1971 classic before a host of celebrities took it in turns to sing portions of the song – including Natalie Portman, Jamie Dornan, Sia, Pedro Pascal, Zoe Kravitz, Will Ferrell and Norah Jones.

The song was widely lampooned, with Ricky Gervais branding it “awful” in an interview with the BBC, while the New York Times said it was “no heaven”.

Read more: Gal Gadot's Cleopatra casting draws backlash

Gadot told Vanity Fair: “Sometimes, you know, you try and do a good deed and it’s just not the right good deed.

“I had nothing but good intentions and it came from the best place, and I just wanted to send light and love to the world.

“I started with a few friends, and then I spoke to Kristen [Wiig], Kristen is like the mayor of Hollywood.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 09: (L-R) Kristen Wiig and Gal Gadot of "Wonder Woman 1984" attend the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on February 09, 2020 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
(L-R) Kristen Wiig and Gal Gadot of "Wonder Woman 1984" attend the 92nd Annual Academy Awards on February 09, 2020. (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

“Everyone loves her, and she brought a bunch of people to the game. But yeah, I started it, and I can only say that I meant to do something good and pure, and it didn’t transcend.”

Gadot also admitted that her frankness sometimes does not go down well in Hollywood, and said: “Sometimes it can get me in trouble.

“There is something that I’ve learned to say, which is, ‘I don’t disagree with you, but’ — so basically I’m disagreeing with you.

“So I adapted. I just came to the conclusion: I do me, you do you. I’d rather have you not liking me at this moment than not saying my truth.”

Wonder Woman 1984 is slated for release at Christmas.

Watch: The latest trailer for Wonder Woman 1984