Five arrested over pro-Palestine protests at Gal Gadot filming in UK
Five protesters have been arrested after reportedly targeting the central London set of Gal Gadot's upcoming film The Runner.
Metropolitan Police responded to the Westminster set on Wednesday, where three people were arrested for harassment, as well as unlawfully obstructing access to a workplace. Another two were arrested over previous protests.
All five individuals remain in custody.
Police said the set was hit with demonstrations 'solely because an actress involved in the production is Israeli.'
'While we absolutely acknowledge the importance of peaceful protest, we have a duty to intervene where it crosses the line into serious disruption or criminality,' said Superintendent Neil Holyoak in a statement. "I hope today's operation shows we will not tolerate the harassment of or unlawful interference with those trying to go about their legitimate professional work in London."
Gadot, who was born in Israel and served in the IDF, has previously expressed her support for Israel, sparking pro-Palestine protests at her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in March.
Her and Snow White co-star Rachel Zegler's opposing stances also hit headlines this year and plagued the released of the Disney live-action movie.
The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic & Cultural Boycott of Israel (Pacbi) has previously said Gadot films should be boycotted, claiming she has shown support for Israel's military campaign in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
What's happening? Labubu dolls, that's what. Creepy cute little monsters with fluffy bodies and razor sharp grins. Originally created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung for his picture book series "Monsters", they were turned into figurines in 2019 as part of a collaboration with toymakers Pop Mart. Since then, their popularity has skyrocketed — especially in bag charm form. Everyone wants one!
Why are they in the news? Last week, Pop Mart decided to pull the toys from all 16 of its UK shops until June, citing "potential safety issues". Many fans have responded angrily — but only have themselves to blame. The announcement followed a fight that reportedly broke out in a London store, where people had queued overnight to obtain the latest Labubu editions. "People were shouting, basically saying there were no more Labubus left,' one customer told the BBC. 'I even witnessed a fight between a worker and a customer."
What's driving this craziness? As is the source of most contemporary trends, we can blame TikTok. The trend took off after Lisa, a member of the popular K-pop band Blackpink, was seen with one on her bag. At the time of writing, there are 1.4M posts under #Labubu, with people excitedly sharing their collections, unboxings, and even crocheting their own versions. In an age where most things are mass produced and easily obtainable, Pop Art's blind boxes and limited edition drops are exciting in their spontaneity.
How much are they? In the UK, they tend to cost anywhere between £13.50 (€16) to £50 (€59), although rare editions can go for even more. One of the main reasons for the recent chaos is re-sellers, who frantically buy up new drops purely to hike up the price, leaving genuine buyers out of luck and frustrated.
Ok, but can we talk about the fact grown adults are getting so upset over toys? Sure, but don't you know we're in the midst of a plushie pandemic?! From Jellycats to Squishmallows — adults have become key consumers of all things cute. According to research group Circana, one in five toys and games are now bought by over-18s for themselves. It's a rapidly growing market known as 'kidults', and led by a mixture of things — like people having children later and overwhelming existential anxiety. The world is on fire, might as well buy some weird little guys to cope.
But… Why are they so scary looking? That's their appeal: the combination of sweet and sinister. Another example of this is the hugely popular Sonny Angels — cherubic little figurines wearing themed bonnets and no pants. Sure, they sound whimsical, but if you look closely enough at those perfectly poised arms and sideways glances... They're plotting something. But it's often these subtly unnerving/bizarre elements of certain toys that make them stand-out; the expressions and outfits characterful and endlessly adaptable.
Sounds like Labubu have got this whole 'kidult' toy craze in the bag. On the bag, more like! Speaking of which — ours suddenly looks awful lonely without...
Don't even...
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(They also demonstrate, as Kayla Marci, who writes the Haute Garbage Substack, told me, that Gen Z's nostalgia has cycled through recent decades and is reaching ever further back.) Yet of the more than 100 micro-trends tracked by market-intelligence company Trendalytics across social media, online search and e-commerce, 60% are declining while only 20% are gaining traction. Even though US users still spend more time per day on TikTok than Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat, according to Sensor Tower, the moment when the platform became the epicenter of trend forecasting, with users naming new aesthetics at a frenetic pace, has passed. We haven't really had a fashion narrative that's broken into the mainstream since Mob Wife. There is one notable exception: the 'recession core' trend, which includes making your own beauty products and finding hair styles that need little maintenance. TikTok posts featuring 'recession core' are increasing by over 3,000% week on week, and average views of tagged videos are up about 1,000% week on week, according to Trendalytics. This reflects the current obsession across society and finance with spotting recession indicators, from sardine-themed fashion (because the fish are cheap and filling) to longer hemlines (said to fall in tough times). There are few, if any, actual products referencing the trend, underlining the challenges for brands of such online conversations coalescing around broader cultural, economic and political themes. These are far more difficult for retailers to navigate than having the right width of jean leg or latest fruit print dress. Take Boom Boom, at the other extreme from 'recession core,' which emphasizes '80s-inspired excess, perhaps reflecting the Trump era's embrace of money and power. The catwalks for fall featured fur, big shoulders, and at Prada SpA's MiuMiu even exaggerated bras. While the minimalism of the past couple of years has been good for some luxury houses, such as Brunello Cucinelli SpA, Prada and LVMH 's Loro Piana, for others, such as Kering SA's Gucci, it has been a disaster. Many companies would love to see a return to logos and more ostentatious dressing. But whether they would fully embrace conspicuous consumption — against the current backdrop of tariff-driven anxiety — is another matter. Even more daunting are politically driven movements, beginning with Trad Wife, which espoused traditionally female roles, and morphing into the more overt MAGA Woman look, characterized by sheath dresses, high heels, flowing tresses and plumped-up lips. Creator Suzanne Lambert took this even further, parodying so-called 'Republican Beauty,' for too pale concealer and clumpy mascara, racking up 6.4 million TikTok views in the process. Few brands have weighed in, despite the potential to sell products. The Mar-a-Lago Face has probably peaked, but given the fracturing of society, it may not be the last divisive trend to emerge. That presents a dilemma for companies. Yet Cassandra Napoli, head of marketing and events at trend forecaster WGSN, told me that consumers are increasingly prioritizing 'ethics over aesthetics,' voting with their wallets and spending their time with businesses that reflect their values. 'Not getting political will not be an option,' she said, even if it was a double-edged sword. Perhaps the narrative that's most concerning for fashion and beauty companies is that of buying less, or nothing at all. Underconsumption has been gaining ground for the past year or so, showcasing a simpler life — streamlining beauty regimes and wearing vintage clothes, for example, are in vogue right now. Brands can respond by focusing on fewer product lines, but more meaningful 'hero' items or embracing vintage in their selections. 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