The live-action remake of Disney’s Snow White, released on March 21, 2025, was meant to be a magical reimagining of the 1937 classic, but instead, it has become a lightning rod for controversy, financial disappointment, and now, personal drama. At the heart of the storm is Rachel Zegler, the 23-year-old Latina actress who stars as Snow White, now facing public criticism from her co-star Andrew Burnap, who plays Jonathan, her character’s love interest. Reports have surfaced that Zegler broke down in tears after Burnap publicly blamed her for the film’s catastrophic failure at the box office, a narrative that has dominated headlines and YouTube discussions since early April 2025. But what’s the real story behind this fallout, and is Zegler truly to blame for Snow White’s flop?

The film, which cost Disney a staggering $270 million to produce—excluding marketing and distribution—has been a financial disaster, grossing just $43 million domestically and $87 million globally during its opening weekend, far below expectations for a project of this scale. By April 9, 2025, the movie had earned $145.6 million worldwide, with projections estimating a $115 million loss for Disney. Critics have been lukewarm at best, with a 40% score on Rotten Tomatoes, citing issues like the CGI dwarfs, a lackluster modernized plot, and an overall failure to capture the nostalgia of the original. Some have argued that the film’s “woke” approach—highlighted by Zegler’s comments about the 1937 film being “dated” and her character’s shift from a romantic dreamer to a feminist leader—alienated audiences who craved the classic fairytale charm.

Amid this backdrop, Andrew Burnap’s alleged comments have added fuel to the fire. Multiple YouTube videos, starting around April 3, 2025, claim that Burnap publicly blamed Zegler for the film’s failure, pointing to her controversial statements and political activism as the primary reasons for the backlash. Zegler’s outspoken criticism of the original Snow White—calling the prince a “stalker” and the story “weird”—drew ire from fans long before the film’s release. Her pro-Palestine posts, including a tweet saying “and always remember, free Palestine” right after promoting the film’s trailer at Disney’s D23 event in August 2024, reportedly led to a spike in death threats against her co-star Gal Gadot, who is Israeli. Disney had to shell out for additional security for Gadot, a mother of four, and insiders claim the studio was furious with Zegler for “hijacking” the film’s promotion with her politics.

Burnap, who had previously praised Zegler’s talent, calling her “the perfect Snow White” and her voice “like Heaven” in a March 20, 2025, interview with People, reportedly shifted his tone after the film’s dismal performance. YouTube channels like those on April 4 and April 5, 2025, allege that Burnap accused Zegler of sabotaging the project with her “immature” behavior, echoing sentiments from Jonah Platt, the son of Snow White producer Marc Platt. Jonah had earlier criticized Zegler on Instagram, calling her “narcissistic” and claiming her actions hurt the film’s box office by putting her “personal politics” ahead of the tens of thousands of crew members who depended on its success. While Jonah later deleted his post after fan backlash, Burnap’s alleged comments seem to have reopened the wound, leaving Zegler visibly emotional.

Zegler’s breakdown, as reported in various YouTube videos, paints a picture of a young actress overwhelmed by the mounting pressure. Sources claim she was “in full breakdown mode” by April 9, 2025, after learning of Burnap’s accusations. This comes after a series of public humiliations for Zegler: photos of her watching Snow White in a nearly empty theater on Discount Tuesday went viral, and critics mocked the film’s failure to draw audiences. The narrative of Zegler as the scapegoat has been pushed by Disney insiders as well, with Variety reporting on March 25, 2025, that the studio hired a social media guru to vet Zegler’s posts after her political statements caused internal shock. Some at Disney reportedly felt Zegler was “out of control,” especially after her post-election Instagram rant against Donald Trump and his supporters, which alienated a significant portion of the film’s potential audience.

However, the story isn’t as black-and-white as it seems. Zegler has garnered significant support from fans and industry peers who argue she’s being unfairly targeted. Film critic David Ehrlich praised her on X, stating, “Rachel Zegler RULES and so obviously has a lifetime of incredible roles ahead of her.” Actress Melissa Barrera, who faced her own backlash for pro-Palestine comments, called Zegler “cool as hell and full of integrity” on Instagram Stories. Journalist Mark Harris labeled Variety’s reporting a “hit job,” accusing Disney of orchestrating a campaign to pin the film’s failure on Zegler’s politics rather than acknowledging broader issues like creative missteps and audience fatigue with live-action remakes—a trend also seen with the underperforming Mufasa: The Lion King prequel.

The tension between Zegler and Burnap also contrasts with their earlier camaraderie. In the same People interview, Burnap shared how he and Zegler bonded over discussions of stage versus film acting, given their shared Broadway experiences—Zegler is set to star in Evita at the London Palladium in summer 2025, while Burnap is currently in Othello with Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal. Their on-set chemistry was evident at the film’s premiere, but the pressure of Snow White’s failure seems to have strained their relationship, at least publicly.

So, is Zegler truly to blame for Snow White’s flop, as Burnap allegedly claims? While her comments and political activism certainly stirred controversy, the film’s issues run deeper. The decision to replace the seven dwarfs with CGI “magical creatures” after backlash from Peter Dinklage, the modernized plot that strayed from the original’s charm, and Disney’s broader strategy of live-action remakes—all of these factors contributed to the film’s downfall. Zegler’s actions may have amplified the noise, but they’re not the sole reason for the film’s failure. The real question is whether Disney will learn from this debacle as it moves forward with projects like Lilo & Stitch, or if Zegler will continue to bear the brunt of the blame for a fairytale that never found its magic.