Gal Gadot’s Tribute To Stephen Hawking Stirs Backlash

Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot has been criticized over her tweet about the late Stephen Hawking.

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Hawking died on Wednesday at the age of 76 from complications due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressive neurodegenerative disease. Following the death of the brilliant physicist, many celebrities took the time to recognize all of his accomplishments and the impact he has made on the world.

Gadot was one of those celebrities, however faced some backlash from her tweet by people with disabilities. In her tweet she writes, “Rest in peace Dr. Hawking. Now you’re free of any physical constraints.”

 

Rest in peace Dr. Hawking. Now you’re free of any physical constraints.. Your brilliance and wisdom will be cherished forever ✨ pic.twitter.com/EQzSxqNTuN

— Gal Gadot (@GalGadot) March 14, 2018

People with disabilities and advocates alike took offense to her tweet, believing that the tweet was “ableist,” or discriminatory towards those who experience disabilities.

One Twitter user pointed out that “his physical constraints didn’t stop him from changing the world.”

 

I think you’re fantastic Gal but this tweet is very ableist. His physical constraints didn’t stop him from changing the world. People with disabilities don’t wish for death to be free of their challenges. We wish to be valued for what we CAN do, not pitied for we can’t.

— Adam B. Zimmerman (@ABZimm) March 14, 2018

Another user said, “He took trips through space, time and dimensions that we could not even imagine.”

 

Ms. Gadot, he will always be remembered for his brilliance and humor despite his physical condition. I must disagree however, with a mind like his, he had no physical constants. He took trips through space, time and dimensions that we could not even imagine. May he Rest In Peace.

— Rev. Gary Conkle (@nthdeegree) March 14, 2018

READ: Grammys 2018 Best Dressed List

Other people tweeted in defense of Gadot, saying that she was just trying to be respectful, and did not mean anything harmful.

 

Ms. Gadot has a voice. You can read that she is being repectful and kind to Dr. Hawking in her bereavement acknowledge. Thanks for the classy offer of condolences. Sets a example for judgemental people…RIP Dr. H!

— d man (@david_fannin) March 16, 2018

Gadot has not spoken out about the tweet since posting it.