Rachel Zegler, the 23-year-old actress who captured hearts with her Golden Globe-winning performance in West Side Story (2021), has once again made headlines—this time for publicly criticizing Disney, claiming the studio has “ruined” her acting career. In a series of fiery social media posts in early May 2025, Zegler expressed frustration over her experience with Disney’s live-action Snow White remake, which flopped spectacularly at the box office, earning just $142.7 million against a $270 million budget. Her comments come amidst a tumultuous period marked by professional setbacks, personal struggles, and relentless online backlash. But is Disney truly to blame for Zegler’s career woes, or are her own actions and the internet’s toxic culture playing a larger role? This article delves into Zegler’s latest outburst, the context of her fraught relationship with Disney, and the broader implications for her future in Hollywood.

The Outburst: Zegler Points the Finger at Disney

On May 4, 2025, Zegler took to Instagram Stories to vent her frustrations, writing, “Disney promised me a fairy tale, but all they gave me was a nightmare. They’ve ruined my career with their mismanagement and lack of support.” In a follow-up post, she accused the studio of scapegoating her for Snow White’s failure, stating, “I was set up to fail—Disney threw me under the bus to save face, and now I’m the one paying the price.” She also criticized the studio’s handling of the film’s promotion, claiming they “silenced” her voice and forced her to conform to their narrative, which she called “hypocritical” given Disney’s public stance on diversity and empowerment.

Zegler’s posts quickly went viral, sparking a heated debate online. Some fans rallied behind her, seeing her as a young actress wronged by a corporate giant, while others viewed her comments as unprofessional and entitled, further damaging her already fragile reputation. This isn’t the first time Zegler has clashed with Disney—her tenure as Snow White has been plagued by controversies, from her casting to her political activism, which many believe contributed to the film’s dismal performance. But her latest remarks mark a new low in her relationship with the studio, raising questions about whether her career can recover from this public fallout.

The Context: A Rocky Road with Snow White

Zegler’s journey with Snow White began in 2021 when she was cast as the iconic princess, a role that initially seemed like a dream come true for the rising star. However, the project was mired in controversy from the start. Her casting as a Latina Snow White drew racist backlash from some fans who argued she didn’t fit the character’s traditional “skin as white as snow” description. Zegler faced further criticism for her comments about the 1937 animated classic, calling it “dated” and the prince a “stalker,” which alienated Disney traditionalists. Her political posts, including a “free Palestine” statement in August 2024 and anti-Trump remarks after the 2024 election, added fuel to the fire, leading to death threats against her co-star Gal Gadot and a boycott by some audiences.

The film itself was a critical and commercial disaster. Despite topping North American box office charts, it earned a mere $43 million domestically in its opening weekend and has since been review-bombed on IMDb, with a score of 1.6 out of 10 from 325,000 users. Critics panned the CGI “magical creatures” that replaced the dwarfs and the modernized plot, which shifted Snow White’s focus from romance to leadership—a change Zegler championed but which many fans rejected. Disney insiders, according to a Variety report, blamed Zegler’s outspokenness for the film’s failure, claiming her comments and political activism hurt its box office potential. The studio scaled back promotion, limited her press appearances, and even hired a “social media guru” to vet her posts, a move Zegler now calls “controlling and humiliating.”

Zegler’s latest criticism of Disney centers on this narrative of blame. She argues that the studio failed to support her against the racist and misogynistic backlash she faced, instead using her as a scapegoat to deflect from their own creative missteps. In her posts, she wrote, “Disney knew the hate I was getting, but they did nothing to protect me. They let me take the fall for their bad decisions.” This sentiment echoes broader criticisms of Hollywood studios, which often leave young stars, particularly women of color, to fend for themselves in the face of public scrutiny.

The Backlash: A Polarized Response

Zegler’s comments have elicited a mixed response from the public and industry insiders. On X, some fans expressed sympathy, with users arguing that Disney mishandled the Snow White project from the start. One user wrote, “Rachel Zegler was set up to fail—Disney’s live-action remakes are a mess, and they let her take the blame for their failure.” Others praised her for speaking out, seeing her as a whistleblower exposing the studio’s lack of accountability. Film critic Kelechi Ehenulo, quoted in a BBC article, called Zegler a victim of “culture wars,” noting that actresses from underrepresented backgrounds often become “targets for backlash” without adequate studio support.

However, not everyone is on Zegler’s side. Critics on X and YouTube have labeled her comments as entitled and unprofessional, arguing that she’s deflecting responsibility for her own role in the film’s failure. A YouTube video titled “Rachel Zegler Blames Disney for Her Own Mistakes!” (May 5, 2025) accused her of “playing the victim” and suggested her outspokenness alienated audiences. Conservative commentators, already critical of her political views, have doubled down, with some calling for a permanent boycott of her work. One X user wrote, “Rachel Zegler trashed Snow White, tanked its box office with her attitude, and now she’s blaming Disney? She needs to take accountability.”

Industry insiders are also divided. Some, like Vanity Fair’s Mark Harris, have criticized Disney for waging a “campaign” to blame Zegler, calling it “astonishingly graceless.” Others, however, see her comments as a career misstep. A Hollywood Reporter source remarked, “Publicly criticizing a studio like Disney is a risky move, especially for a young actress. It could make other studios hesitant to work with her.” Disney has not responded to Zegler’s claims, but the studio’s silence speaks volumes, suggesting a relationship beyond repair.

Zegler’s Career: A Downward Spiral?

Zegler’s career trajectory has been a rollercoaster. After her breakout role in West Side Story, she starred in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023), which overperformed at the box office, earning $100 million in its first 11 days. However, Snow White’s failure has cast a shadow over her achievements. Her Broadway run in Romeo + Juliet (2024-2025) received mixed reviews, and she was snubbed by the Tony Awards in May 2025, adding to her professional woes. Recent reports of her being spotted intoxicated at New York bars have further damaged her image, with some speculating she’s struggling to cope with the pressure.

Zegler’s claim that Disney “ruined” her career may be an exaggeration, but there’s no denying the studio’s role in her current predicament. By casting her in a controversial project and failing to shield her from backlash, Disney left her exposed to a level of scrutiny few young actresses could withstand. The studio’s decision to scale back promotion and limit her press appearances, as reported by Page Six, signaled a lack of confidence in her ability to handle the role, further undermining her position. Moreover, Disney’s broader strategy of live-action remakes has been faltering—audiences are growing tired of these reimaginings, as evidenced by the shelving of a Tangled remake following Snow White’s failure.

Yet, Zegler’s own actions have contributed to her downfall. Her comments about the original Snow White, while rooted in a desire for a modern take, were perceived as dismissive by fans, and her political activism, though principled, alienated a significant portion of Disney’s audience. Her recent bar incidents and public outburst against Disney suggest a lack of media training or guidance, a point raised in a Platform Magazine article about her earlier PR struggles. While Disney may have failed to support her, Zegler’s inability to navigate the spotlight has compounded her challenges.

The Bigger Picture: Hollywood’s Treatment of Young Stars

Zegler’s situation highlights systemic issues in Hollywood, particularly for young women of color. Actresses like Halle Bailey and Melissa Barrera have faced similar backlash for their roles and activism, often without adequate studio protection. As The New Yorker noted, Disney’s attempt to blame Zegler for Snow White’s failure ignores the broader context of racism and misogyny she’s endured. The studio’s silence on the harassment Zegler faced—ranging from online trolls to strangers showing up at her home—speaks to a broader culture of neglect, where young stars are expected to weather public hate without support.

Zegler’s criticism of Disney also raises questions about the studio’s commitment to diversity. While casting a Latina Snow White was a progressive move, Disney failed to anticipate or mitigate the backlash, leaving Zegler to fend for herself. This pattern of tokenism—hiring diverse talent without providing the necessary support—undermines the very inclusivity Disney claims to champion. As The Nation pointed out, Snow White became a battleground for “racial politics, international conflict, and America’s ideological divide,” with Zegler caught in the crossfire.

Moving Forward: Can Zegler Recover?

Despite her current struggles, Zegler’s career is far from over. She’s set to star in She Gets It From Me, a comedy-drama with Marisa Tomei, and will make her West End debut in Evita later in May 2025, playing Eva Peron at the London Palladium. These projects offer a chance to showcase her talent away from Disney’s shadow, but her public image will need careful rehabilitation. Her recent outburst against Disney, while cathartic, may deter other studios from working with her, as it signals a willingness to bite the hand that feeds—a risky move in an industry that values discretion.

To recover, Zegler will need to balance her authenticity with professionalism, a challenge she’s struggled with in the past. Her openness about mental health and her advocacy for marginalized groups, as seen in her Allure interview, resonate with younger audiences, but she must learn to navigate Hollywood’s expectations without compromising her values. Support from peers like Pedro Pascal and Ariana Grande, who have publicly praised her, could help her regain footing, but the onus is on Zegler to rebuild trust with audiences and studios alike.

Conclusion

Rachel Zegler’s claim that Disney “ruined” her acting career reflects a young star’s frustration with a system that often sets up diverse talent for failure. The Snow White debacle, marked by creative missteps, racist backlash, and Disney’s lack of support, has undoubtedly taken a toll on her career and mental health. However, Zegler’s own actions—her critical comments, political activism, and recent outburst—have played a role in her struggles, highlighting the need for better media training and self-awareness. While the online community’s reaction to her has often been harsh, her latest criticism of Disney strikes a chord, exposing the studio’s failure to protect its stars. As Zegler moves forward with new projects, her resilience and talent will be key to overcoming this chapter. Hollywood may be a tough kingdom, but for a princess like Zegler, the story isn’t over yet—she just needs to write her own happy ending.