CNNEntertainment
Gal Gadot and A-List Friends Criticized for ‘Imagine’ Quarantine Cover
Wonder Woman tried using her power to save the day during the current coronavirus outbreak, but not in the way you’d think. The hero’s current actress, Gal Gadot, rounded up her celebrity friends this week to create a video cover of John Lennon’s “Imagine” in an attempt to promote solidarity through quarantine. But, the video instead sparked widespread internet backlash.
“Hey guys. Day six in self-quarantine. And I’ve got to say that these past few days got me feeling a bit philosophical,” Gadot said in the beginning of the video. “You know, this virus has affected the entire world, everyone—doesn’t matter who you are, where you are from, we are all in this together.”
Featuring an A-list cast of actors, models and comedians, the video shows clips of people from Jimmy Fallon to Natalie Portman singing the tune from self-isolation.
In a way, the video did promote solidarity—just not in the way that she intended. The internet banded together to ridicule the video, calling it both cringey and unnecessary.
No politician can unify people in the way that the “Imagine” video seems to have united every single person against it.
— Josh Gondelman (@joshgondelman) March 19, 2020
wait in all seriousness what am I supposed to feel from this how is this meant to comfort me in any way https://t.co/NDJtsD8ya8
— ♡ snitchery ♡ (@snitchery) March 19, 2020
Some found it unsettling that all parties involved were taking the singing really seriously. Many are not singers, so they didn’t exactly deliver arena-selling performances. Others were confused how the video’s stars genuinely seemed to think that a clip of millionaires singing from their cushy homes would end up inspiring people in need.
celebrities be like: it’s so hard being stuck in my home to social distance but we’re all in this together 🙂
their home: pic.twitter.com/5dSojcRBg5
— em (@emmasdaisies) March 19, 2020
this is so intensely chaotic I don’t know where to begin https://t.co/UUBhhGY6Po
— rachel syme (@rachsyme) March 19, 2020
Many people online found it to be a low-effort way for privileged celebrities to try to make a difference. Many of the people in the video have not publicly donated to any relief efforts for coronavirus, which could be seen as a more effective way to help others during the health crisis.
— Laura Martínez® (@miblogestublog) March 19, 2020
if you are a PR person with a celebrity client, tell them to pay for the groceries of recently laid off folks, donate money to food banks, and figure out how to send medical supplies to hospitals instead of participating in a group singing video
— Karen K. Ho (WASH YOUR HANDS) (@karenkho) March 19, 2020
“We need money”
Rich people: pic.twitter.com/hYKXiqnMc6— Lexi *:･ﾟ✧ (@hauscherry) March 19, 2020
“Imagine” if celebrities came together to donate money/resources to people actually need it
I wonder if they can 🙂
— Caroline Darya Framke (@carolineframke) March 19, 2020
Nothing like rich famous people singing “imagine no possessions” in their mortgage free homes as the rest of society queue at Lidl for broken biscuits. https://t.co/T5jSVl6VPw
— Steve Brookstein (@stevebrookstein) March 19, 2020
Gadot, however, released the video with good intentions. She said she was inspired by a video of an Italian neighborhood singing together outside of their windows during quarantine.
“There was something so powerful and pure about this video,” Gadot said.
What do you think of the video? Is it moving, or did you find it cringey or insincere? Let us know by tagging us on social media @hersmagazine and using the hashtag #HersChat.
0 comments