Rachel Zegler, the 23-year-old star of Disney's much-anticipated remake of the classic film Snow White, has found herself at the center of a media storm following the film's disappointing box office performance. Despite the backlash, Zegler has secured a new role with the BBC, where she will read the CBeebies Bedtime Story.
The actress, who plays the titular character in the $270 million production, will read Never Mess with a Pirate Princess by Holly Ryan, set to air on March 28, 2025. In this episode, Zegler encourages young viewers, stating, "We can all be powerful princesses. You don't need a king or a queen as parents, or a beautiful white horse, or even a fancy castle to live in. To be a powerful princess you just need to be wonderful, brilliant you!"
Despite her new gig, Zegler's journey has been tumultuous. The film opened to a mere $43 million domestically, significantly trailing behind Disney's previous live-action adaptations. For instance, Disney's Little Mermaid remake earned $95 million in its opening weekend, while Dumbo made $45 million with a much lower budget of $170 million.
In the wake of the film's lackluster performance, Zegler has faced intense scrutiny, particularly regarding her outspoken political views. In August 2024, while promoting the film, she shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) that read, "And always remember, free Palestine." This statement reportedly led to a spike in death threats against her co-star, Gal Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen and is known for her support of Israel. Following these threats, Disney took the precaution of hiring private security for Gadot.
Jonah Platt, the son of the film's producer, Marc Platt, publicly criticized Zegler in a now-deleted Instagram comment. He claimed her political statements had negatively impacted the film's box office, labeling her behavior as "narcissistic" and "immature." Jonah stated, "My dad, the producer of 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." He added, "Her actions clearly hurt the film's box office. Free speech does not mean you're allowed to say whatever you want in your private employment without repercussions."
These comments ignited further debate about the intersection of free speech and professional responsibility in Hollywood. Many social media users reacted negatively to Jonah's remarks, arguing that the film's failures were due to broader industry trends rather than Zegler's posts. Some pointed out that the film's marketing issues and the general audience fatigue with remakes might be more significant factors.
Rachel Zegler has faced backlash not only for her political views but also for her criticism of the original 1937 Snow White film. She has described the portrayal of the love story between Snow White and Prince Charming as "problematic," stating, "The original cartoon came out in 1937, and very evidently so. There's a big focus on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. Weird. So we didn't do that this time."
The film's opening weekend figures were disappointing, grossing $43 million domestically, with a worldwide total of $87 million. This was particularly disheartening given the film's hefty budget of $270 million, which excluded marketing costs. Critics have largely panned the film, giving it a 42 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences rated it more favorably at 74 percent.
As the controversies surrounding Snow White continue to unfold, Rachel Zegler's new role with the BBC may provide her with a fresh start, allowing her to connect with a younger audience while navigating the complexities of Hollywood's expectations. Despite the backlash, she remains a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, known for her talent and outspoken nature.
In a statement regarding the film's challenges, Marc Platt expressed hope that audiences would eventually appreciate the film, saying, "I'm hopeful that once audiences actually experience the film, all the noise around it will fade away and people will discover a family entertainment that is joyful, aspirational, and delightful."
As Zegler prepares for her new role, the film industry watches closely, eager to see how the ongoing discourse about representation, politics, and artistic expression will shape the future of productions like Snow White.
