The highly anticipated film Gladiator 2 has sparked controversy after scenes featuring Palestinian-Egyptian actress May Calamawy were reportedly cut due to her vocal support for Palestine.
Calamawy, who was cast in a significant role, saw her screen time reduced to brief and only silent appearances after publicly criticizing Israel's 2023 Gaza attacks.
The decision has reignited concerns over Hollywood's political climate and its alignment with pro-Israel interests.
Originally, Calamawy’s role was marketed as central to the storyline, with her character playing a key part in the narrative alongside Paul Mescal’s character, Lucius.
However, after she voiced her opposition to Israel’s war in Gaza and expressed support for Palestinians, her scenes were nearly entirely excised from the film.
The drastic reduction in her role, contrary to initial announcements, has been widely seen as a response to her political stance.