Hollywood is reeling from a jaw-dropping showdown as Rachel Zegler, the star of Disney’s live-action Snow White, has unleashed a fiery response to co-star Gal Gadot’s claims about the film’s catastrophic box office failure. The $270 million remake, released in March 2025, crashed with a mere $194 million worldwide, sparking a blame game that’s tearing through Tinseltown. Gadot, who played the Evil Queen, recently pointed to Zegler’s political statements—particularly her vocal “Free Palestine” stance—as a key reason for the flop, igniting a cultural firestorm. Now, Zegler is hitting back, declaring, “She’s part of why it failed!” With fans divided, social media ablaze, and Disney scrambling to salvage its reputation, this feud is exposing raw tensions over politics, stardom, and the high stakes of remaking a beloved classic. Dive into the drama that’s shaking the Magic Kingdom to its core!

The Snow White Debacle: A Box Office Disaster

Disney’s live-action Snow White, directed by Marc Webb and starring Rachel Zegler as the titular princess and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, was meant to be a triumphant reimagining of the 1937 animated classic that launched the studio’s legacy. Instead, it became one of Disney’s most notorious failures, earning just $42 million domestically and stalling at $194 million globally against a $270 million budget, resulting in an estimated $115 million loss. The film faced criticism from the start: Zegler’s casting as a Latina Snow White sparked racist backlash, while her comments calling the original’s romance “weird” and “creepy” alienated fans. Changes to the iconic dwarves, now a mix of one actor with dwarfism and CGI characters, drew further ire after Peter Dinklage criticized the story as “backwards.”

The film’s troubles didn’t end there. Its 38% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and lackluster 70% audience score reflected a disconnect with viewers, who found the modernized narrative—focusing on Snow White as a leader rather than a romantic heroine—uninspired. Marketing was scaled back, with the March 15, 2025, premiere at El Capitan Theater limited to photographers and in-house crew, a stark contrast to Disney’s usual red-carpet extravaganzas. As the fallout grew, Gadot’s August 2025 interview on Israeli TV’s The A Talks sent shockwaves, blaming the film’s failure on “pressure on celebrities to speak out against Israel,” implicitly pointing to Zegler’s pro-Palestine posts as a catalyst.

Zegler’s Retaliation: “She’s Part of the Problem”

Rachel Zegler, the 24-year-old Golden Globe winner known for West Side Story and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, didn’t stay silent. In a fiery Instagram Live session on August 22, 2025, Zegler clapped back, accusing Gadot of deflecting blame. “She’s part of why it failed,” Zegler declared, her voice trembling with frustration. “This film was a team effort, and pointing fingers at me for speaking my truth ignores the bigger issues—creative choices, a rushed script, and a lack of connection with audiences. Gal’s out here acting like her performance and her own stance didn’t stir the pot too.” Zegler’s remarks referenced Gadot’s vocal pro-Israel advocacy, including her March 2025 Anti-Defamation League speech condemning those who “celebrate a massacre of Jews,” which drew protests at her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony.

Zegler’s retort has reignited a feud that’s been simmering since the film’s production. The two stars, who presented together at the 97th Oscars on March 2, 2025, barely interacted, with fans noting their “frosty” demeanor. Reports of separate press tours and Zegler’s absence from Gadot’s Walk of Fame event fueled rumors of tension, exacerbated by their opposing views on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Zegler’s August 2024 X post, “always remember, free Palestine,” posted alongside a Snow White trailer announcement, reportedly prompted producer Marc Platt to urge her to “tone down” her activism, citing its impact on Gadot and the film’s reception. Zegler’s latest comments suggest she’s done holding back, framing Gadot’s accusations as a convenient scapegoat for deeper creative failures.

The Political Firestorm

The Snow White controversy is inseparable from the polarized political climate surrounding its stars. Zegler, a vocal advocate for social justice, faced backlash for her November 2024 Instagram post wishing “Trump supporters and Trump himself never know peace,” which she later apologized for. Her pro-Palestine stance, a consistent part of her public persona, clashed with Gadot’s proud Israeli identity and her history as an Israel Defense Forces soldier. Gadot’s outspoken support for Israel, including signing a 2023 open letter amid the Hamas-Israel conflict, drew criticism from pro-Palestine groups, with protests at her March 2025 Walk of Fame ceremony highlighting the divide. One X user captured the sentiment: “Righties hated Rachel for her skin tone and politics; lefties skipped it because of Gal’s IDF past. The movie was doomed.”

Gadot’s claim that Hollywood’s “pressure to speak out against Israel” sank Snow White has sparked fierce debate. Supporters argue she faced unfair scrutiny, with one X post stating, “Gal’s being targeted for being Israeli, not her acting.” Others, however, see her comments as deflecting from the film’s flaws, with a Reddit user noting, “The movie failed because it looked soulless, not because of politics.” Zegler’s defenders rallied behind her, with one fan tweeting, “Rachel’s being scapegoated for speaking out while Gal plays the victim. The real issue is Disney’s bad remake.” The feud has turned Snow White into a lightning rod for culture wars, with both actresses caught in a no-win situation.

Disney’s Dilemma: A Tarnished Legacy

The Snow White flop is a stark reminder of the risks Disney faces with its live-action remakes. The 1937 original, the studio’s first animated feature, remains a cultural treasure, as evidenced by a 2025 auction where concept art sold for millions—$168,000 for an Evil Queen painting alone—outpacing the remake’s net profits. Disney’s decision to modernize the story, sidelining romance and reimagining the dwarves, alienated fans who cherished the classic’s charm. Zegler’s comments calling the original “dated” and “sexist” further fueled perceptions that Disney disrespected its legacy, with one X user writing, “Why remake Snow White if you hate the original? Rachel’s attitude tanked it.”

Disney’s response has been to distance itself from the controversy. After scaling back Snow White’s promotion, the studio shifted focus to Lilo & Stitch (2025), which soared at the box office with a faithful adaptation. Reports suggest Disney has shelved plans for a Tangled remake, wary of repeating Snow White’s mistakes. The studio’s silence on the Zegler-Gadot feud speaks volumes, with insiders claiming executives were unprepared for the political backlash. “Disney didn’t know what to do with Rachel,” a source told Page Six, noting the studio hired a “social media guru” to vet her posts during the press tour.

The Fan Divide and Industry Impact

Social media is a battleground, with fans split over who’s to blame. Zegler’s supporters argue she’s been unfairly targeted, with one X post stating, “Rachel’s a 24-year-old standing up for what she believes in. Gal’s throwing her under the bus to save face.” Gadot’s defenders counter that her Israeli identity made her a target, with one user tweeting, “Gal gave a great performance, but Rachel’s posts turned fans away.” Critics of the film itself point to creative missteps, with a Reddit thread calling it “a soulless cash grab with no magic.” The feud has overshadowed the film’s merits—Zegler’s vocal performance and Gadot’s commanding Evil Queen earned praise—but failed to connect with audiences craving the original’s fairy-tale charm.

The fallout has broader implications for Hollywood. The Snow White debacle highlights the risks of politicizing blockbuster films, especially when stars’ personal beliefs clash with studio expectations. Disney’s loss has sparked talk of a “remake reckoning,” with fans demanding stories that honor classics rather than rewrite them. The success of Lilo & Stitch and Moana (2026) suggests audiences still love faithful adaptations, but Snow White’s failure may force studios to rethink their approach. For Zegler, the controversy hasn’t dimmed her star—she’s set to shine in Romeo + Juliet on Broadway—but Gadot’s comments have put her in the hot seat, with some questioning her attempt to pin the blame on external pressures.

A Feud That Won’t Melt Away

The Zegler-Gadot feud is more than a Hollywood spat—it’s a microcosm of the cultural divides shaping entertainment today. Zegler’s bold retort, “She’s part of why it failed,” shifts the narrative, challenging Gadot’s claim that political pressures alone sank Snow White. The truth likely lies in a mix of factors: a poorly received remake, divisive casting choices, and the stars’ clashing politics. As Disney licks its wounds, fans are left to ponder whether the studio can recapture the magic of its classics or if Snow White’s flop marks the end of an era.

Catch Snow White on Disney+ to judge for yourself, but don’t expect a sequel anytime soon. With Zegler and Gadot at odds, and the internet ablaze with takes—#SnowWhiteFlop is trending for a reason—this feud is far from over. Who’s really to blame: Zegler’s outspokenness, Gadot’s deflection, or Disney’s missteps? The answer may be as elusive as a poisoned apple, but one thing’s certain: Arendelle’s drama is hotter than ever, and Hollywood’s watching every move.