The Disney adaptation of Snow White, directed by Marc Webb, initially showed promise but encountered significant difficulties soon after its announcement. Controversy began with the colour-blind casting of Rachel Zegler in the lead role, which sparked debate among fans. Further issues arose when the traditional Seven Dwarfs were removed from the story, prompting backlash from audiences.
Originally, the filmmakers planned to replace the dwarfs with a group of politically correct Bandits. However, fan displeasure led to reshoots and the dwarfs were reintroduced as fully computer-generated characters in the live-action film.
Additional Sources of Controversy and Public Response
Zegler’s public statements criticizing the original animated Snow White and former President Donald Trump, along with conflicting views between her and co-star Gal Gadot on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, intensified the divisiveness surrounding the film. Both supporters and critics called for boycotts, fueling a heated online debate.
Financially, the movie struggled, grossing only $206 million worldwide despite a combined production and marketing budget estimated at over $350 million. Critical reception mirrored this challenge, as the film holds a low 38% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Rachel Zegler’s Response to Ongoing Criticism
In an interview with Glamour, Rachel Zegler openly addressed the persistent criticisms she has faced related to her portrayal of Snow White. She remarked on her emotional resilience in the face of such negativity:
“It rolls right off my back these days. We just need to normalise our hearts’ not having boundaries. I think that there’s this idea that we as public figures can’t have thoughts or feelings because we are like paper dolls to a majority of the public.” – Rachel Zegler, Actress
When asked about how she remains grounded amid the online discourse, Zegler highlighted her dedication to her craft and the relationships she formed during filming:
“My love for the work. I am the one who showed up and did my work every day. Nobody can ever take that away from me. I made lifelong friends on that job,”
“That kind of family doesn’t get dissipated by online discourse.” – Rachel Zegler, Actress
She also reflected on the overall experience with the film, noting that despite the negativity, there was positive reception as well:
“Every experience I’ve had so far has been such a wonderful lesson learned. I loved working on [Snow White], and I love that film. I’ve seen it a few times, and it [became] number one on streaming on Disney+, so I know that it’s celebrated,”
“It was one of those experiences of sometimes negativity being louder than positivity.” – Rachel Zegler, Actress
Aftermath and Future Directions for Zegler
While Snow White underperformed at the box office, the film experienced some success on streaming platforms. Whether this indicates genuine celebration remains debated, though Rachel Zegler has since moved on professionally. She received praise for her role in Evita on London’s West End, distancing herself from the social media controversies linked to Snow White.
Despite the storm of online criticism and mixed audience reactions toward the film and certain performances—particularly Gal Gadot’s widely criticized portrayal of the Evil Queen—Zegler has managed to maintain a positive professional trajectory and support from fans who valued her performance as the Disney Princess.
