Gal Gadot Acknowledges Shortcomings Of That Viral 'Imagine' Video: 'It Didn't Transcend'
Gal Gadot enlists Amy Adams, Sia, Jimmy Fallon and more for a sing-a-long of John Lennon's "Imagine." Also, Fallon announces the "Cowbell Challenge." USA TODAY
Remember that infamous viral video of celebrities singing "Imagine" at the start of coronavirus lockdowns? Gal Gadot, who organized the star-studded singalong, says her ultimate goal was to do a "good deed," even if it wasn't perceived that way.
Gadot enlisted the help of a myriad of famous faces in March to sing John Lennon's "Imagine" as a way to boost morale amid coronavirus quarantines in the U.S. And around the world.
The "Wonder Woman" actress, 35, told Vanity Fair in an interview published Tuesday that she had "good intentions" but acknowledged the video's shortcomings. Though it was meant to spread joy during uncertain times, critics instead found it tone deaf for Hollywood's elite to take videos of themselves singing instead of taking real, definitive action to help those affected by the coronavirus.
“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."
Back in March, Gal Gadot rounded up some of her celebrity friends for a quarantine cover of "Imagine," which she shared to her Instagram. (Photo: JEAN-BAPTISTE LACROIX, AFP via Getty Images)
"Saturday Night Live" alum Kristen Wiig, whom Gadot dubbed "the mayor of Hollywood," helped enlist more stars to participate, the actress recalled. Will Ferrell, Natalie Portman, Jimmy Fallon, Zoe Kravitz, Amy Adams, Mark Ruffalo, James Marsden, Sarah Silverman, Maya Rudolph and more famous faces sent in their own selflie videos.
“Everyone loves her, and she brought a bunch of people to the game," Gadot added of Wiig. "But yeah, I started it, and I can only say that I meant to do something good and pure, and it didn’t transcend.”
By mid-March, several states in the U.S. Had begun issuing stay-at-home orders to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, which as of Tuesday has sickened more than 7.8 million Americans and killed more than 215,000, according to Johns Hopkins data.
Celebrities began looking for ways to lift fans' spirits while staying safe at home. Many, like Jimmy Fallon, Ellen DeGeneres, John Legend and Keith Urban put on intimate, at-home talk shows and concerts.
"Day six in self quarantine, and I've got to say these past few days got me feeling a bit philosophical," Gadot said in the video posted to her Instagram account March 18. "This virus has affected the entire world. Everyone. Doesn't matter who you are, where you're from. We're all in this together."
More: Gal Gadot enlists stars to sing 'Imagine'
Gadot said she was inspired by a video of a man in Italy playing the trumpet from his balcony for the other tenants in his building.
"He was playing 'Imagine' and there was something so powerful and pure about this video. And it goes like this," she said, before singing the first line of the song. The video then cut to various celebrities singing a line each.
"We are in this together, we will get through it together," Gadot captioned the post. "Let’s imagine together. Sing with us ❤ All love to you, from me and my dear friends."
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