Rachel Zegler, the 24-year-old actress and singer who burst onto the scene with her Golden Globe-winning role in West Side Story, has never been one to shy away from speaking her mind. But on May 12, 2025, she took her defiance to a new level with the release of a revenge music video titled “Aimed at Everyone,” a scathing, self-produced track that has sent shockwaves through Hollywood and beyond. The video, which Zegler announced on Instagram with a cryptic caption—”For everyone who thought they could silence me”—is a bold, unapologetic response to the relentless backlash she’s faced over the past year, particularly following the box office failure of Disney’s live-action Snow White. With biting lyrics, cinematic visuals, and a fearless attitude, Zegler’s latest project takes aim at her detractors—critics, trolls, industry insiders, and even some former allies—proving that she’s not just a Disney princess, but a force to be reckoned with.

Zegler’s journey to this moment has been a rollercoaster. She first captured global attention in 2021 as Maria in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, earning a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy at the age of 20—the youngest winner in the category’s history. Her career trajectory seemed unstoppable, with roles in major films like The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023), which grossed $348 million worldwide, and Shazam! Fury of the Gods. But her casting as Snow White in Disney’s live-action remake, announced in 2021, marked the beginning of a storm that would test her resilience. The film, released on March 21, 2025, became a lightning rod for controversy, plagued by Zegler’s comments about the 1937 original’s “dated” romance plot, the decision to use CGI for the dwarfs, and her outspoken political views, including a viral X post in August 2024 that read, “and always remember, free Palestine.” The backlash culminated in a disastrous box office run, with the $270 million film grossing just $202.8 million worldwide, leading to an estimated $115 million loss for Disney.

The fallout was brutal. Zegler faced intense criticism from all sides—conservative audiences boycotted the film over her political stances, fans of the original Snow White accused her of disrespect, and industry insiders blamed her for the film’s failure. Producer Marc Platt’s son, Jonah Platt, publicly criticized her in a now-deleted post, calling her “narcissistic” and claiming she dragged her politics into the promotional campaign. Her West Side Story co-star Ariana DeBose inadvertently added fuel to the fire by sharing Platt’s quote, later backtracking with an apology. Even Sean Ono Lennon, son of John Lennon, labeled Zegler a “disconnected brat” on X, while podcast host Zack Peter argued her politics “blunted Disney’s magic.” The film was review-bombed on IMDb, earning a 1.6/10 rating, and its Mother’s Day weekend re-release in May 2025 earned a mere $335,000, cementing its status as a flop.

For Zegler, the criticism was more than professional—it was personal. She told Allure in March 2025 that she received private support from stars like Helen Mirren and Ariana Grande, but the public vitriol took a toll. “I’ve been called everything from ‘woke’ to ‘spoiled’ to worse,” she said in a recent interview with Variety. “But I’m not here to shrink myself to make others comfortable.” That defiance is the driving force behind “Aimed at Everyone,” a music video that doubles as a declaration of independence and a middle finger to her critics. Released on YouTube and announced via Instagram on May 12, 2025, the video has already racked up 5 million views in less than 24 hours, sparking a firestorm of reactions across social media.

The video opens with Zegler in a stark, black-and-white setting, sitting on a throne-like chair reminiscent of the Evil Queen’s from Snow White. She’s dressed in a blood-red gown, her expression steely as she stares directly into the camera. The first verse sets the tone: “They said I’d fall, they said I’d break / Called me a princess, but I’m awake / You built your castles on my name / But I’ll burn them down, I’ll play your game.” The lyrics are a clear jab at the media and fans who turned on her, accusing them of using her as a scapegoat while ignoring systemic issues with the film, like Disney’s creative choices and the broader decline of live-action remakes.

As the beat drops—a pulsating mix of pop and electronic elements produced by Zegler herself alongside Grammy-winning producer Jack Antonoff—the video transitions into a montage of symbolic imagery. Zegler smashes a glass slipper, sets fire to a pile of tabloid headlines, and dances through a forest of mirrors, each one reflecting distorted versions of herself labeled with words like “Woke,” “Ungrateful,” and “Failure.” The chorus is an anthem of empowerment: “I’m aiming at everyone who doubted me / Everyone who shouted, tried to break me / Watch me rise, I’m not your pawn / I’m aiming at everyone, I’ll carry on.” The imagery and lyrics leave no doubt that Zegler is addressing a wide array of targets: the trolls who review-bombed her film, the industry figures who blamed her for its failure, and even Disney itself for not protecting her from the backlash.

The video’s most provocative moment comes in the second verse, where Zegler takes aim at specific individuals without naming them. “You quoted lies, you turned your back / Played the victim in your attack,” she sings, a clear reference to Ariana DeBose’s controversial Instagram post quoting Jonah Platt’s criticism. Another line—“You called me brat, but who’s the child?”—seems to target Sean Ono Lennon’s remarks. The visuals accompanying these lyrics are equally pointed: Zegler is shown cutting strings attached to a marionette puppet dressed in a Broadway costume, symbolizing her break from those who once supported her but later turned away.

Fans have also interpreted the video as a critique of Disney’s handling of the Snow White controversy. In one scene, Zegler bites into a poisoned apple, only to spit it out and crush it under her heel, a metaphor for rejecting the role that nearly derailed her career. “You fed me poison, thought I’d sleep / But I’m awake now, I’ll dig deep,” she sings, her voice raw with emotion. The line resonates with reports that Disney struggled to manage Zegler’s outspokenness, with producer Marc Platt reportedly flying to New York to address her “free Palestine” post, which she refused to delete. The video’s final shot—Zegler walking away from a burning castle, her silhouette framed against the flames—feels like a declaration of independence from the studio that both elevated and constrained her.

The release of “Aimed at Everyone” has ignited a polarized response. On X, fans have rallied behind Zegler, with one user writing, “Rachel Zegler just dropped the ultimate clapback with ‘Aimed at Everyone.’ She’s not here for your nonsense, and I’m living for it.” Another praised her artistry, saying, “The visuals, the lyrics, the vocals—Rachel is a triple threat, and this video proves she’s not going anywhere.” However, detractors have been equally vocal, with some calling the video “petty” and “immature.” One critic tweeted, “Rachel Zegler’s revenge video is just her playing the victim again. Maybe if she focused on her acting instead of drama, Snow White wouldn’t have flopped.” The divide mirrors the broader debate around Zegler’s career, with supporters seeing her as a talented young woman unfairly targeted, and critics viewing her as a polarizing figure who invites controversy.

For Zegler, the music video is a return to her musical roots, a space where she’s always felt most at home. She began her career in musical theater, starring in school productions like Legally Blonde and Beauty and the Beast, and her debut single, “Let Me Try,” released in 2021, showcased her vocal prowess. Her roles in musical films like West Side Story and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes have consistently been highlights, even when the films themselves received mixed reviews. “Aimed at Everyone” marks her first original music project since her debut single, and it’s a testament to her growth as an artist willing to take risks.

The timing of the video’s release is significant. Zegler is currently preparing for a busy summer, with a starring role as Eva Perón in the West End’s Evita, set to open on July 1, 2025, at the London Palladium. She’s also lined up her next film, She Gets It From Me, a comedy-drama with Marisa Tomei, marking her first major project since Snow White. The music video serves as a bridge between these endeavors, allowing Zegler to reclaim her narrative and assert her voice on her own terms. As she told Variety earlier this month, “I’ve always used music to express what I can’t say in words. This video is me taking back my power.”

Whether “Aimed at Everyone” will mark a turning point in Zegler’s career remains to be seen. The video has already sparked conversations about the treatment of young women in Hollywood, the double standards they face, and the power of art as a form of resistance. For Zegler, it’s a statement of survival—an assertion that she won’t be defined by her critics or her past. As she sings in the video’s final line, “I’m aiming at everyone, but I’m aiming for me.” With her talent, determination, and unapologetic spirit, Rachel Zegler is proving that she’s not just aiming to survive—she’s aiming to thrive.