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Snow White Star Rachel Zegler Faces Online Scrutiny Amidst Film Debate
The discourse surrounding the new Snow White movie and its lead actress, Rachel Zegler, has become inescapable, regardless of audience reception to the Disney live-action adaptation. The 23-year-old actress has been a central figure in conversations around the film, with opinions polarized between those blaming her for unfavorable reviews and those defending her against perceived unwarranted criticism. This controversy surrounding Zegler is not a recent phenomenon.
Even before the release of Snow White, Zegler found herself at the epicenter of debate. She has faced criticism regarding her interpretation of the classic fairytale and her publicly expressed political viewpoints, notably concerning former US President Donald Trump and his voter base. Conversely, many voices have risen to her defense, expressing unease at the intense scrutiny directed towards such a young performer.
Film critic Kelechi Ehenulo characterizes Zegler as a casualty of “culture wars,” cautioning that actors from marginalized communities, such as Zegler’s Latina heritage, are often susceptible to becoming “targets for backlash.” This raises the question: how did this situation develop, and what path lies ahead for Zegler?
Controversy and the Blame Game Surrounding Snow White
The live-action rendition of the cherished fairy tale, Snow White, premiered recently and was met with largely lukewarm critical reception. While some US critics offered mildly favorable assessments, the film’s box office performance, despite initially leading in North American charts, has underperformed expectations.
Online, some observers have swiftly attributed blame to Zegler, suggesting she negatively impacted the film’s launch. Among these voices was Jonah Platt, son of Snow White producer Marc Platt, who, in a now-deleted but widely circulated social media post, rebuked Zegler.
Platt asserted that Zegler had injected her “personal politics” into the movie’s promotional activities, alleging, “Her actions clearly hurt the film’s box office.” Platt did not respond to requests for comment from news outlets.
The controversies surrounding Zegler began well before the film’s debut. She encountered online hostility for her casting in the role, stemming from objections to a Latina actress portraying a character traditionally described as having “skin as white as snow”.
Further controversy arose from Zegler’s 2022 remarks about the original animated Snow White film. She commented, “There’s a big focus [in the original] on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. Weird! So we didn’t do that this time.”
Zegler also described the original movie as “extremely dated when it comes to the ideas of women being in roles of power,” adding, “People are making these jokes about ours being the PC Snow White, where it’s like, yeah, it is – because it needed that.”
Many interpreted these comments as critical of Disney’s animated legacy. Publications labeled her remarks a “woke tirade,” with one media outlet suggesting she had “trashed the beloved original Snow White.”
Film editor Victoria Luxford observed that criticizing the original film was “never going to work out well,” given that “these films are marketed on nostalgia, on making you feel like you did when you saw the original, so to speak of it negatively seemed puzzling.”
Zegler declined to provide comments for this article. However, film critic Anna Smith noted that some headlines may have presented a skewed portrayal.
“Zegler pointed out that times and attitudes have changed, and that the new Snow White has been adapted for the current age. This is typical of numerous remakes and reboots, many of which do not generate headlines concerning ‘woke’ culture,” Smith explained.
Political Views Ignite Further Debate
Zegler’s political stances have also contributed to the backlash. Last summer, she acknowledged fan reactions to the film’s trailer online, appending the message, “and always remember, free Palestine.”
Reportedly, producer Marc Platt addressed this directly with Zegler following the post. Neither Zegler nor Platt have offered comments on this matter.
Further controversy arose from Zegler’s post-2024 US presidential election views. In an online message, she conveyed her hope that “Trump voters and Trump himself never know peace.” She later issued an apology for these statements.
Some have applauded her outspokenness. Ehenulo acknowledges that Zegler is “not the first and certainly not the last actor to be speaking about politics.” Luxford questioned whether the film’s primary demographic, children under 10, would be influenced by her political views.
However, film critic Conor Riley suggested that her comments about Trump were not conducive to “the stability of the movie’s release.” He also pointed out that Gal Gadot, who portrays the Evil Queen, has also faced negative reactions due to her vocal support of Israel.
Riley added that the film’s timing was also potentially detrimental. “Ultimately, [Zegler] became a lightning rod for controversy, not just due to her own actions, but because Snow White landed at the convergence of Hollywood’s creative stagnation, racial politics, international conflict, and America’s deep ideological divide,” he concluded.
Actress Deemed ‘Target for Backlash’
Luxford and others contend that some of the negative reactions stem from “prejudice.” “She’s a young Latina woman with political opinions that don’t align with certain groups, who are quick to voice their anger,” she stated.
Zegler is not alone in experiencing online toxicity as a young female actress. Millie Bobby Brown, of “Stranger Things,” recently criticized media articles about her appearance, labeling them “bullying” rather than “journalism.”
Smith highlights that prominent women are disproportionately targeted in this manner. “When women in the public eye are criticized, bias is often evident. Regardless of the issue, the approach, discussion, and reporting frequently differ from how men are treated,” she observed.
Ehenulo urges the entertainment industry to enhance protection for its performers. “What frustrates me is how effortlessly actors of color become targets for online backlash, yet the silence from studios, news outlets, and social media platforms is telling,” she stated.
“This absence of public support… enables the toxicity to persist and escalate. It’s a chaotic environment, and I foresee no improvement when this has become so normalized,” Ehenulo added.
Requests for comment regarding these claims were directed to Disney, who declined to respond.
Despite the controversy, Zegler’s career continues to advance. She is slated to star in “Evita” in London’s West End and recently appeared on a children’s program reading a bedtime story.
Concluding her story reading, Zegler told young viewers, “To be a powerful princess you just need to be wonderful, brilliant you!” For some, this message embodies Zegler herself.
“I don’t know if she’s going to be doing another Disney film anytime soon,” Luxford mused, “but she’s 23, she’s a Golden Globe winner, and she’s a very talented actor.”