Gal Gadot Sparks Outrage After Wearing Dress By Elie Saab At National Board Of Review

Gal Gadot is facing ire for wearing an Elie Saab dress to the National Board of Review Awards on Tuesday night.

GAL GADOT WEARS ELIE SAAB DRESS, SPARKS OUTRAGE

It wasn’t the thigh-high slit that drew people’s attention, but the fact that Gadot, an Isreali actress, was wearing a dress designed by a Lebanese fashion designer. Israel and Lebanon have been at war since 1948, when the Israeli-Lebanon conflict first began. Tensions continue to be strained between the countries, and people on both sides are upset by the actress’ style choice.

Thank you @nbrfilm for the wonderful night and for honoring Patty and I with the Spotlight Award. #WonderWoman

A post shared by Gal Gadot (@gal_gadot) on Jan 10, 2018 at 8:57am PST

Not only is Gadot an Israeli, but she is also a former Israel Defense Forces combat trainer. Lebanon has boycotted Israel in solidarity with the Arab League Boycott of Israel, which began in 1955. In 2017, Lebanon banned Wonder Woman because Gadot played the title role.

Not only is Gadot facing a backlash, but so is Saab. “A flawless @gal_gadot in ELIE SAAB Ready-to-Wear Spring Summer 2018 at the national board of review annual gala in New York,” wrote Saab on her Instagram page in a now-deleted post. Several Lebanese people took to social media to call out Saab for dressing Gadot and for complimenting her.

“I love and respect Elie Saab, but is he really happy an Israeli actress wore a dress he designed?” one Twitter user asks. Another wrote, “I don’t have a problem with her wearing @ElieSaabWorld but I do have a problem with posting her picture from Elie Saab’s account and bragging about an ex Israeli soldier wearing his dress! Don’t ruin one the few things that make us proud Lebanese people! Elie Saab makes us proud.”

Others still thought it was a non-issue, and hoped that people would be less close-minded in 2018.