Disney’s ‘Snow White’ Faces Backlash Amid Controversial Comments by Rachel Zegler

Burbank, CA — Disney‘s live-action adaptation of ‘Snow White‘ is facing scrutiny following a series of controversial comments made by lead actress Rachel Zegler. Shortly after presenting the film’s official trailer at the D23 fan event on August 12, 2024, Zegler took to social media to express gratitude to fans. However, her follow-up message — ‘and always remember, free palestine’ — shocked Disney executives and drew significant backlash.

The trailer garnered a staggering 120 million views in just 24 hours, but Zegler’s political statement, which received 8.8 million views, alarmed many within the studio. Concerns grew that her comment could alienate potential viewers of the $270 million project, which could be detrimental to its already precarious market position. ‘She didn’t understand the repercussions of her actions as far as what that meant for the film, for Gal, for anyone,’ said an industry insider.

Following the incident, the studio reportedly raised concerns with Zegler’s team. Producer Marc Platt even took the initiative to fly to New York City to discuss the matter directly with the actress. Despite the studio’s intervention, Zegler maintained her stance, allowing the post to remain online. Reports indicate a rise in death threats directed at her co-star Gal Gadot, who is Israeli, prompting Disney to provide additional security for her and her family.

Three months later, after the U.S. presidential election, Zegler made more headlines for her polarizing remarks on social media, which included comments aimed at Trump supporters. This escalated tensions within Disney, as Zegler was perceived to be diminishing the film’s potential audience. Disney intervened once again, bringing in a social media expert to vet Zegler’s posts before the film’s release on March 21, 2025.

As ‘Snow White’ entered a beleaguered debut, earning only $87 million worldwide against its massive budget and extensive reshoots, studio executives began a post-mortem on what went wrong. The film’s global box office revenue was reportedly $34 million less than anticipated, raising eyebrows among competitors. ‘You can’t say that a live-action remake of the most iconic film in the vault that cost [$270 million] and has been reshot multiple times opening to $50 million is OK. The math does not work,’ said an executive at a rival studio when predicting the film’s fortunes.

The turmoil surrounding Zegler and her statements added to the challenges faced by Disney in managing the narratives of its stars. In contrast, Gadot refrained from mixing promotional efforts with geopolitical commentary, largely sticking to supporting affected civilians. Zegler’s previous grievances expressed on social media, including a complaint about not being invited to the 2022 Oscars as a lead in ‘West Side Story,’ had already set a contentious tone with the studio.

The studio might have underestimated the backlash from Zegler’s comments and their impact on the film’s reception. Industry analysts like Jeff Bock noted, ‘Too much negative controversy surrounded this film for years, and it didn’t help that the reviews were subpar.’ Despite numerous factors like COVID-related delays and on-set issues contributing to the film’s struggles, the potential for significant box office performance appeared lost amid the controversy.

While media reports hinted at a feud between Zegler and Gadot, sources stated that the actresses maintained a cordial relationship during production. However, promotional strategies that kept them apart during events may have exacerbated these perceptions of discord.

Ultimately, Disney has been cautious in managing its stars’ statements, especially after previous legal disputes with actors over similar issues. As the aftermath of ‘Snow White’s’ opening weekend unfolds, industry observers note the importance of navigating social media carefully when promoting major studio films.