'It didn't transcend': Gal Gadot opens up about viral 'Imagine' video

The 'Wonder Woman' star split opinion with a star-studded version of the John Lennon's song earlier this year

Gal Gadot has broken her silence about the viral, and much-derided, 'Imagine' video. Getty Images

Gal Gadot has finally addressed the highly criticised rendition of John Lennon's Imagine she performed alongside a gaggle of celebrity friends as the world went into lockdown.

Speaking during an interview with Vanity Fair on Tuesday, the Wonder Woman star said she had nothing but good intentions when making the video, which many around the world deemed cringe-worthy.

“Sometimes, you know, you try and do a good deed and it’s just not the right good deed,” she said. “I had nothing but good intentions and it came from the best place, and I just wanted to send light and love to the world.”

The video was posted on March 18, and featured a number of A-listers, including Sia, Natalie Portman, Kristen Wiig, Will Ferrell and Jimmy Fallon. “This virus has affected the entire world, everyone,” she said in the clip. “It doesn’t matter who you are, where you’re from, we’re all in this together.”

The video was blasted as tone deaf, given that the virus was having a greater impact on poorer communities.

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At the time, comedian Ricky Gervais said: “You can see in their eye – ‘I could cry at the beauty of my personality, I’m just so beautiful for doing this’ and everyone sees that – we get it.”

Gadot said she was inspired to make the video after seeing a viral clip of an elderly man in Italy playing the song for his neighbours as the country went into stay-at-home measures. “I started it, and I can only say that I meant to do something good and pure, and it didn’t transcend,” she said.

The interview was released just days after Gadot was announced to be playing Cleopatra in an upcoming blockbuster, something she is facing a whole new wave of criticism for by people claiming the role is being "whitewashed".