Mary Bowerman | USA TODAY

AP

Actress Gal Gadot is facing backlash after her tribute to the late Stephen Hawking was seen as insensitive to those who are disabled.

Evan Agostini, Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

Hawking, who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) when he was 21, died on Wednesday, and Gadot, like many other celebrities tweeted a tribute to the theoretical scientist.

"Rest in peace Dr. Hawking. Now you're free of any physical constraints.. Your brilliance and wisdom will be cherished forever," Gadot tweeted.

Rest in peace Dr. Hawking. Now you're free of any physical constraints.. Your brilliance and wisdom will be cherished forever ✨ pic.twitter.com/EQzSxqNTuN — Gal Gadot (@GalGadot) March 14, 2018

On social media, some took issue with Gadot's statement that death finally freed Hawking of the "physical constraints." Many called the actress insensitive and "ableist," or discriminative against people who are disabled.

"His physical constraints didn't stop him from changing the world," Twitter user Adam B. Zimmerman said. "People with disabilities don't wish for death to be free from their challenges. We wish to be valued for what we CAN do, not pitied for we can't."

I think you’re fantastic Gal but this tweet is very ableist. His physical constraints didn’t stop him from changing the world. People with disabilities don’t wish for death to be free of their challenges. We wish to be valued for what we CAN do, not pitied for we can’t. — Adam B. Zimmerman (@ABZimm) March 14, 2018

Gal I am chronically ill. Can't shower or even get myself out of bed. Lost 18 years thus far. But I ran a charity funding research for my illness #ME and advocate for Change. All from my bed. Is my life not important? Disablement is not shameful, bigotry is. Watch @unrestfilm pls — amara campbell (@amaracampbell) March 14, 2018

This is very offensive to disabled people I suggest u delete this... So ridiculous — khanyisa (@nobuzana) March 15, 2018

Hawking did not believe his disability prevented him from work, in fact, he said it may have helped him.

"My disabilities have not been a significant handicap in my field, which is theoretical physics," Hawking wrote in a 1984 article for Science Digest. "Indeed, they have helped me in a way by shielding me from lecturing and administrative work that I would otherwise have been involved in."

View | 15 Photos

Stephen Hawking through the years

View | 15 Photos

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