In a swirl of controversy, Disney's live-action remake of Snow White has faced significant backlash, primarily targeting lead actress Rachel Zegler. The film, which premiered on March 21, 2025, has seen its box office performance falter, grossing only $43 million during its opening weekend, a staggering shortfall from the projected $85 million and well below its estimated production cost of $270 million.
The troubles began long before the film hit theaters. Since its production started in 2022, Snow White has been mired in controversies, including a year-long delay and debates over how to portray the dwarfs. However, Zegler's outspoken political views have drawn particular scrutiny. In August 2024, while promoting the film, Zegler posted on social media, “and always remember, free Palestine,” a statement that ignited a firestorm of criticism.
Jonah Platt, the 38-year-old son of producer Marc Platt, recently took to Instagram to voice his discontent with Zegler's actions. In a now-deleted comment, he labeled her “narcissistic” and suggested her social media activity harmed the film's box office performance. He stated, “Yeah, my dad, the producer of [an] enormous piece of Disney IP with hundreds of millions of dollars on the line, had to leave his family to fly across the country to reprimand his 20-year-old employee for dragging her personal politics into the middle of promoting the movie.”
Platt's comments came in response to a critic who had accused his father of harassment. He emphasized that Zegler had signed a multimillion-dollar contract, implying that she should have been more mindful of her public persona. “Tens of thousands of people worked on that film and she hijacked the conversation for her own immature desires at the risk of all the colleagues and crew and blue-collar workers who depend on that movie to be successful,” he added.
Following the backlash, Disney executives contacted Zegler, and Marc Platt personally flew to New York to discuss the situation with her. Reports indicated that he requested Zegler collaborate with a social media specialist to vet her future posts, a suggestion she initially resisted, choosing to keep her pro-Palestine message online.
The fallout from Zegler's posts has been severe. Her co-star, Gal Gadot, who is Israeli, reportedly began receiving death threats, prompting Disney to enhance her security. As Zegler faced online abuse, some of it racially charged due to her Colombian heritage, the film's production faced additional hurdles, including COVID-related delays, a Hollywood actors' strike, and a fire on set.
Critics have pointed out that the film's struggles are not solely due to Zegler's actions. The backlash against the film has also been fueled by its casting choices—Zegler's casting as a Latina actress in a role traditionally associated with a character described as having “skin as white as snow” drew ire from some traditionalists. Zegler herself has argued that the storyline needed updating, stating, “It’s no longer 1937. She’s not going to be saved by the prince, and she’s not going to be dreaming about true love. She’s dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be.”
Peter Dinklage, the actor known for his role in Game of Thrones, also criticized Disney's approach to the dwarfs in the film. He questioned the decision to retain the original story while casting a diverse lead, suggesting the studio was being hypocritical. Disney responded by stating they were consulting with the dwarfism community to avoid reinforcing stereotypes.
Despite the controversies, Zegler has continued to defend her stance. After the presidential election in November 2024, she posted on Instagram, “F*** Donald Trump” and “May Trump supporters never know peace,” further alienating some audience segments. Following the backlash from these comments, Zegler issued an apology, acknowledging that her emotions had gotten the best of her and expressing regret for contributing to negative discourse.
The film's opening weekend performance has sparked discussions about Disney's overall strategy with live-action remakes. The studio has faced criticism for a series of lackluster releases, with previous films like Dumbo and Peter Pan & Wendy also failing to resonate with audiences. One Reddit user commented, “A perfect storm of bad ideas gets exactly what it deserves,” reflecting widespread sentiments about the film's struggles.
In the midst of all this, Sean Ono, son of John Lennon, weighed in on the uproar surrounding Zegler. While he acknowledged that the vilification against her had gone too far, he also suggested that her personality might have contributed to the backlash, calling her “a spoiled ungrateful and disconnected brat.”
As the conversation surrounding Snow White continues, it raises questions about the intersection of celebrity, social media, and the expectations placed on actors in politically charged times. With the film's future uncertain and its opening weekend revenues falling short of expectations, the impact of Zegler's comments and the broader cultural debates surrounding the film are likely to remain hot topics in the entertainment industry.
