MUNA Band Apologizes for Kimmel Appearance With Gal Gadot, Declares Support for Palestinians
American band MUNA has issued an apology to fans following a joint appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live with Israeli actress Gal Gadot. Gadot was a guest on the show, where she demonstrated how to blow a shofar and discussed Rosh Hashanah traditions. Her presence, however, sparked backlash among MUNA's fanbase.
In response to the criticism, MUNA member Naomi McPherson posted a statement on Instagram explaining that the band was unaware of Gadot's participation beforehand. "We were on Kimmel today! Thank you to the whole team at Kimmel, they are amazing and really went out of their way for us. This was filmed a few days ago and we were not told who else would be on," McPherson wrote. She added, "So we have to use this moment to say a huge, big, good Free Palestine." The statement implies the band might have declined to participate had they known Gadot would be a guest.
During her segment, Gadot shared Rosh Hashanah customs with Kimmel, mentioning apples and honey, honey cake, and stuffed fish. She then presented a shofar, explaining its significance: "The commandment is to hear the shofar. It's supposed to awaken the soul before a good year and unite everyone." Gadot and Kimmel then took turns blowing the instrument, wishing viewers a happy new year.