Gal Gadot says there are more important things to worry about than Wonder Woman's outfit

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Wonder Woman hits back at U.N.

Fox411 Breaktime: Gal Gadot questions the comic book character's firing over her sexy appearance and kick-butt attitude

Gal Gadot thinks there are more important things to worry about than Wonder Woman's hemline.

The comic book heroine was abruptly fired from her honorary ambassador job at the United Nations last week following protests both inside and outside the world organization that a white, scantily-clad American prone to violence wasn't the best role model for girls.

Gadot, who is the latest actress to portray Wonder Woman on the silver screen, shared her thoughts on the controversy in a new interview with Time.

"When people argue that Wonder Woman should 'cover up,' I don't quite get it," she told Time. "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?"

She added, "There are so many horrible things that are going on in the world, and this is what you're protesting, seriously?"

Those who wanted to strip Wonder Woman of her U.N. honor said the appointment was tone deaf at a time when real women are fighting against sexual exploitation and abuse, and that there were plenty of real heroines that could be the face for gender equality.

Wonder Woman's image was to be used by the U.N. on social media platforms to promote women's empowerment, including on gender-based violence and the fuller participation of women in public life. Defenders of the decision pointed to the character's pioneering, feminist roots and her muscular bravery.

But an online petition, started by U.N. staffers and signed by more than 44,000 people, asked the secretary-general to reconsider the appointment, saying the message the U.N. was "sending to the world with this appointment is extremely disappointing." And during the Oct. 21 ceremony at the U.N., many staffers silently turned their back to the stage, some with their fists in the air.

Several critics took issue with Wonder Woman's skimpy outfit, arguing that the world might not embrace a scantily-clad character in a thigh-baring bodysuit with an American flag motif and knee-high boots.

Honorary ambassadors — as opposed to goodwill ambassadors like Nicole Kidman and Anne Hathaway — are fictional characters. The U.N. previously tapped Winnie the Pooh to be an honorary Ambassador of Friendship in 1998 and Tinker Bell as the honorary Ambassador of Green in 2009.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.