Gal Gadot been forced to clarify rumours that she was not allowed to wear the yellow pin symbolising the plight of the hostages at the Golden Globe Awards.
Announcing in an Instagram post on Wednesday that she was “never forbidden” from doing so despite allegations to the contrary.
The Israeli actress, 39, wrote: “It is important for me to clarify: I was never forbidden from wearing a pin at the Golden Globes. Some people chose to tell a story that never happened, and I prefer to focus on what’s real and truly important – our hostages.
“Everyone expresses their support in a way that suits them. I chose to share a post with global reach and wear a yellow ring as a symbol of solidarity. What truly matters is that the hostages come home now. My heart is with the families waiting for them.”
Gal Gadot posted a story on Instagram clarifying that she was never forbidden from wearing the hostage pin at the Golden Globes ceremony on Sunday. (Photo: Screenshot via Instagram)
The announcement came after a representative of the Wonder Woman star reportedly told Israeli media that Gadot was not permitted to wear the yellow ribbon pin to the Beverly Hills awards ceremony “because she is presenting an award and there are rules,” the representative reportedly told Ynet.
“She was tormented and therefore published the [Instagram] post calling for the release of the hostages before the ceremony. She thought of a creative solution together with her managers — and wore a yellow ring. It was important to her to abide by the rules and also to remember the hostages.”
The representative referred to Gadot’s 5 January Instagram post about 20-year-old Israeli hostage Liri Albag, who appeared in a Hamas propaganda video released over the weekend.
“On a personal level, while I prepare for a festive and joyous evening, my heart is heavy, and my soul aches knowing the hostages are still there,” Gadot wrote in the post, which also featured a photo of Albag and the yellow ribbon symbol above the message “#BringThemHomeNow.”
Many pro-Israel figures online were quick to react to the absence of the symbol on Gadot’s custom black silk Giorgio Armani Privé gown given the actress’s usual outspokenness on the plight of the hostages, with comments criticising her and other Jewish stars for not bringing attention to the crisis.
In a statement to The Algemeiner on Tuesday, the Golden Globes said that the reports about Gadot being forbidden from wearing the hostage pin to the awards ceremony are “categorically false.”
“The Golden Globes does not have a policy against wearing pins or other signifiers that support, or are perceived to support, political or social causes,” the statement said. “Further, no message of any kind was communicated to Gal Gadot or any other presenter/attendee by or on behalf of the Golden Globes, that they could not wear a ribbon to the Golden Globes or to any event associated with the Golden Globes. Any suggestion to the contrary is categorically false.”