Rachel Zegler, the 23-year-old actress who burst onto the scene with her Golden Globe-winning role in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story (2021), has found herself at the center of yet another storm of controversy. Her latest project, Disney’s live-action Snow White remake, which hit theaters on March 21, 2025, has been nothing short of a disaster, grossing a mere $182.6 million worldwide against a reported $270 million budget—far short of the $550 million needed to break even. Amidst the film’s dismal performance, Zegler has made headlines again, this time for allegedly exposing her co-star Gal Gadot, who played the Evil Queen, in a scathing social media outburst. The fallout has sparked chaos at Disney, with reports of internal strife, boycotts, and a growing divide between the studio and its young star. This article explores the dramatic events surrounding Snow White’s failure, Zegler’s explosive claims against Gadot, and the broader implications for Disney’s live-action remake strategy.
A Fairytale Turned Nightmare
The Snow White remake was meant to be a crowning achievement for Disney, a reimagining of its 1937 animated classic that introduced the world to its first princess. Starring Zegler as Snow White and Gadot as the Evil Queen, the film was directed by Marc Webb and written by Erin Cressida Wilson, with a focus on modernizing the story for today’s audience. Zegler’s Snow White was reimagined as a leader dreaming of following in her father’s footsteps, rather than a damsel waiting for true love—a shift that sparked both praise and criticism. However, the production was plagued by controversies from the start, including racist backlash over Zegler’s casting as a Latina actress, debates over the use of CGI for the seven dwarfs, and tensions stemming from the stars’ opposing political views on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
The film’s troubles began long before its release. In 2022, Zegler faced backlash for comments calling the original Snow White “dated” and describing the prince as a “stalker,” a narrative she felt didn’t align with modern values. These remarks, while intended to highlight the remake’s progressive approach, alienated some fans who accused her of disrespecting a beloved classic. Meanwhile, Gadot, an Israeli actress and former IDF soldier, drew criticism for her outspoken support of Israel, particularly after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Zegler, a vocal supporter of Palestine, added fuel to the fire with posts like “always remember, free palestine” following the release of the Snow White trailer in August 2024. The political divide between the two stars led to rumors of a feud, with sources reporting to outlets like People that they had “nothing in common” due to their age gap—Zegler at 23 and Gadot at 39—and differing views.
Disney’s attempts to manage the situation were evident in its scaled-back promotional efforts. The Snow White premiere on March 15, 2025, at the El Capitan Theatre was a low-key affair, with no traditional red carpet press, only photographers and a house crew allowed. Reports from Variety suggest this was a deliberate move to avoid questions about the stars’ tensions. Despite appearances together at the 97th Academy Awards on March 2, where they presented an award, Zegler and Gadot were kept apart during much of the promotional tour, with Gadot promoting solo at Disneyland and Zegler hosting a screening in New York. The lack of cohesion between the leads only amplified public perception of discord, setting the stage for the film’s eventual box office flop.
The Box Office Disaster and Zegler’s Explosive Claims
When Snow White finally hit theaters, the response was underwhelming. Critics were divided, with the film earning a 47% score on Rotten Tomatoes from 101 reviews, one of the lowest for a Disney live-action remake. While some, like The Hollywood Reporter, praised Zegler’s “incandescent” performance and the film’s “sparkling entertainment” value, others were scathing. The Guardian called it “exhaustingly awful,” slamming both leads for giving the “dullest performances of their lives,” and Rolling Stone criticized the “cringeworthy” CGI dwarfs. Audience reception was equally mixed, with posts on X reflecting frustration over Gadot’s “atrocious” acting, though some felt Zegler was a bright spot despite the film’s flaws.
The financial impact was devastating. With a production budget of $270 million—excluding marketing costs—the film needed to gross over $550 million to break even. Instead, it managed only $182.6 million worldwide, resulting in a reported $115 million loss for Disney. The failure prompted the studio to pause production on its planned live-action Tangled remake, signaling a broader reevaluation of its live-action strategy. Some attributed the flop to Zegler’s controversial comments and the political divide between her and Gadot, which led to boycotts from both pro-Palestine and pro-Israel groups. Others pointed to deeper issues with the film itself, including a lack of tonal consistency and uninspired storytelling.
Amid this chaos, Zegler took to social media on April 10, 2025, to share her side of the story, posting a series of Instagram Stories that sent shockwaves through the industry. In her posts, Zegler allegedly exposed Gadot, accusing her of creating a “toxic” environment on set due to her “diva behavior” and claiming that Gadot’s political stance made it difficult for the cast to work cohesively. “I poured my heart into this film, but some people cared more about their image than the project,” Zegler wrote, without naming Gadot directly but leaving little doubt about her target. She also hinted at feeling scapegoated by Disney, writing, “It’s easy to blame the ‘woke’ Latina girl, but maybe look at the real issues—like casting choices and a lack of support.”
Zegler’s posts quickly went viral, amassing millions of views and sparking a heated debate online. Some fans rallied behind her, praising her for speaking out against what they saw as Disney’s mishandling of the project. Others, however, accused her of deflecting blame for the film’s failure, pointing to her own controversial statements as a contributing factor. The posts also reignited discussions about the rumored feud between Zegler and Gadot, with reports from Variety noting that Gadot had received death threats following Zegler’s pro-Palestine comments, prompting Disney to provide her with additional security. The tension between the two stars, once a rumor, now seemed undeniable, and Disney found itself grappling with a public relations nightmare.
Chaos at Disney: A Studio in Crisis
The fallout from Zegler’s exposé has plunged Disney into chaos, exposing deep cracks in the studio’s approach to managing its stars and projects. Internally, the failure of Snow White has led to finger-pointing, with some Disney insiders blaming Zegler for alienating audiences with her comments. Variety reported that producer Marc Platt had flown to New York in August 2024 to address Zegler’s pro-Palestine post, asking her to “post heedfully” due to the film’s high stakes. After her anti-Trump comments following the 2024 election, Disney reportedly hired a “social media guru” to vet her posts, a move that underscored the studio’s view of her as a liability.
Zegler’s latest outburst has only deepened the divide. Sources suggest that Disney executives are furious, viewing her comments as a betrayal after the studio stood by her through multiple controversies. The decision to scale back Snow White’s promotion, while initially a protective measure, now appears to have backfired, as it fueled perceptions of a troubled production and allowed the narrative of a Zegler-Gadot feud to dominate headlines. The studio’s attempt to distance itself from Zegler—evident in the lack of joint appearances with Gadot—has been criticized as a failure to manage its talent effectively, leaving both actresses to fend for themselves in the court of public opinion.
The broader implications for Disney are significant. The Snow White flop has called into question the viability of the studio’s live-action remake formula, which has produced hits like Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin but also duds like Dumbo and Pinocchio. The decision to pause the Tangled remake suggests a lack of confidence in the strategy, particularly when projects are mired in controversy. Moreover, Disney’s handling of Zegler and Gadot highlights the challenges of navigating politically charged issues in an increasingly polarized world. By casting two stars with opposing views on a divisive conflict, Disney inadvertently set the stage for a clash that overshadowed the film itself.
A Cautionary Tale for Hollywood
The Snow White debacle serves as a cautionary tale for Hollywood, illustrating the risks of mismanaging talent and underestimating the impact of off-screen drama. Zegler, despite her undeniable talent, has become a polarizing figure, with her outspokenness on political issues and her criticism of the original film drawing both admiration and ire. Her exposé of Gadot, while a bold move, risks further damaging her career, especially following reports of her being considered “unhireable” by some studios after the Snow White fallout and her recent Evita rehearsal meltdown, where she was allegedly escorted off stage.
Gadot, for her part, has remained relatively silent, focusing on her role as a mother of four and her pro-Israel advocacy. However, her performance in Snow White has been widely criticized, with some fans on X calling it “atrocious” and a major factor in the film’s failure. The political boycotts targeting her involvement, including a ban in Lebanon, have only added to the challenges she faces in maintaining her Hollywood standing.
For Zegler, the path forward is uncertain. Her next project, a West End production of Evita, was meant to be a fresh start, but reports of her being labeled a “nightmare” by director Jamie Lloyd and footage of her being escorted out of rehearsals suggest that her troubles are far from over. At 23, she has time to recover, but her ability to learn from these experiences and adopt a more measured approach to her public persona will be crucial.
Disney, meanwhile, must reckon with the lessons of Snow White. The studio’s live-action remakes have been a mixed bag, and the failure of this project underscores the need for a more thoughtful approach—one that prioritizes creative vision over corporate strategy and ensures that talent is supported rather than pitted against each other. As the dust settles on this fairytale turned nightmare, one thing is clear: the chaos surrounding Snow White will be remembered as a pivotal moment in Disney’s history, a reminder that even the most magical stories can’t escape the harsh realities of the modern world.
