Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. Credit: Facebook

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New Wonder Woman trailer

Israeli actress Gal Gadot spoke out this week about the abrupt removal of Wonder Woman, who she has played on screen, as a United Nations Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Women and Girls.“There are so many horrible things that are going on in the world, and this is what you’re protesting, seriously?” Gal Gadot retorted in an interview with Time Magazine.“When people argue that Wonder Woman should ‘cover up,’ I don’t quite get it,” she said. “They say, ‘If she’s smart and strong, she can’t also be sexy.’ That’s not fair. Why can’t she be all of the above?” Gadot asked Time.The scantily clad, curvaceous comic book superhero had her appointment as a United Nations honorary ambassador cut in less than two months following protests and an online petition.A United Nations spokesman said the character's role at the 193-member state organization would end despite plans for Wonder Woman to be used in an empowerment campaign for women and girls into 2017.The move came after the Oct. 21 appointment of the superhero to fight for gender equality sparked heavy criticism, with nearly 45,000 people signing an online petition asking UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to reconsider selection of the character."Although the original creators may have intended Wonder Woman to represent a strong and independent 'warrior' woman with a feminist message, the reality is that the character's current iteration is that of a large breasted, white woman of impossible proportions," the petition read.Wonder Woman, a DC Comics Inc. heroine, first appeared in 1941, fighting villains, rescuing victims and unearthing evil plots.Dozens of UN employees protested at the UN headquarters in New York City on the day of the appointment when Diane Nelson, president of DC Entertainment, said the Wonder Woman campaign would feature various initiatives "over the course of the next year."The fictional superhero has been whipping up strong emotions ever since her first appearance due to her overtly sexualized image.Apart from the heroine's outfit, critics have argued that her infamous 'lasso of truth' portrays the character in an abundant amount of bondage situations and her strength and independence has made her an LGBT icon.The UN did not provide further details as to why the Wonder Woman campaign ended last week but spokesman Jeffrey Brez said campaigns using fictional characters often lasted no longer than a few months.He said "Angry Birds," a collection of animated characters that originated in an online video game, were used as climate envoys in March for a single day.DC Entertainment, which publishes DC Comics, said it was pleased with the exposure Wonder Woman brought to the UN's global goals to achieve gender equality and empower women and girls by 2030."Wonder Woman stands for peace, justice and equality, and for 75 years she has been a motivating force for many and will continue to be long after the conclusion of her UN Honorary Ambassadorship," said Courtney Simmons, from DC Entertainment,Simmons said the release next year of a special-edition Wonder Woman comic book on the empowerment of women and girls, announced in October, is still planned.A full-length Wonder Woman movie, unaffiliated with the UN campaign, starring Gadot is scheduled for release by Warner Bros. in June next year.