Academy Awards drama: This is Gal Gadot's unexpected (and unwanted) co-presenter

Israel will have a proud presence at this year’s Academy Awards, though not from the nominee stage. On Wednesday, it was announced that Gal Gadot, the Israeli actress and Wonder Woman star, will take the presenter’s podium at the 97th Oscars, set for March 2 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

Gadot joins an illustrious roster of presenters that includes Harrison Ford, Samuel Jackson, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Andrew Garfield, and Margaret Qualley. Notably, she’ll share the spotlight with Rachel Zegler, her co-star in Disney’s upcoming live-action Snow White, set to premiere next month.

The pairing of Gadot, a vocal supporter of Israel, and Zegler, who has expressed pro-Palestinian views, has raised eyebrows and fueled speculation about their onstage dynamic. Other presenters include Ben Stiller, Selena Gomez, Oprah Winfrey, Willem Dafoe, and Ana de Armas, with Conan O’Brien hosting and Nick Offerman as the evening’s announcer.

While the specific award Gadot will present remains under wraps, her participation comes amid renewed scrutiny. At last month’s Golden Globe Awards, her decision not to wear the yellow hostage pin—symbolizing solidarity with Israeli hostages—drew criticism from some fans and pro-Israel advocates. Initial rumors suggested she’d been barred from wearing political symbols, but Gadot took to Instagram to clarify: “I was never forbidden from wearing the pin. Some chose to tell a fabricated story. I prefer to focus on what truly matters—our hostages. My heart is with the families waiting for them.”

Her appearance at the Oscars coincides with heightened tensions in Hollywood over the Israel-Palestinian conflict. The Brigade, a pro-Israel group active in the industry, has vowed to respond if attendees wear the red hand pin tied to Artists4Ceasefire, a pro-Palestinian initiative. Critics of the pin associate it with imagery evoking the 2000 Ramallah lynching, a charge the group disputes.

Israel Hayom contributed to this article.