Rachel Zegler, the 23-year-old actress who rose to fame with her Golden Globe-winning role in West Side Story (2021), has recently found herself at the center of a media storm. In late April 2025, photos surfaced online showing Zegler looking disheveled, with messy clothing and an exhausted appearance, leading to sensational claims that she was mistaken for homeless. These images, coupled with viral YouTube videos and X posts, have fueled speculation about her well-being, with some tying her appearance to the catastrophic failure of Disney’s Snow White remake, in which she starred. The film’s $115 million projected loss and relentless backlash have left Zegler under intense scrutiny. But what’s really going on with her? This article delves into the incidents, explores the context of her recent challenges, and examines the broader implications of her public struggles, drawing on web sources and social media discussions.

The Incident: A Shocking Public Appearance

In late April 2025, paparazzi photos of Zegler in New York City sparked a frenzy. The images, published by outlets like Daily Mail and amplified on YouTube, showed her in oversized, worn-out clothing—baggy sweatpants, a stained hoodie, and sneakers with frayed laces. Her hair was unkempt, and her face appeared pale and tired, with dark circles under her eyes. These photos contrasted sharply with her usual polished red-carpet look, prompting headlines like “Rachel Zegler Homeless?! Fans Shocked by UNRECOGNIZABLE Look!” from YouTube channels such as Benny On The Beat (April 26, 2025). Some posts on X, including one by @HollywoodGossipX, claimed passersby mistook her for a homeless person, though no verified accounts confirm this.

The photos emerged during a tumultuous period for Zegler. Disney’s Snow White, released on March 21, 2025, was a critical and commercial disaster, grossing only $142.7 million worldwide against a $270 million budget, per Daily Mail (April 2, 2025). Zegler’s outspoken comments during the film’s promotion, including her criticism of the 1937 original as “dated” and her political posts about Palestine and Donald Trump, had already made her a lightning rod for controversy. The combination of her haggard appearance and the film’s failure led to cruel speculation about her mental and financial state, with YouTube videos like “Rachel Zegler’s Shocking Transformation: Homeless Look After Snow White’s Massive Flop!” (April 29, 2025) racking up millions of views.

The Backlash: A Perfect Storm

Zegler’s recent struggles can be traced to a series of interconnected events, primarily tied to Snow White. The film faced backlash from its announcement in 2022, when Zegler, a Latina of Colombian and Polish descent, was cast as the titular princess, traditionally described as having “skin as white as snow.” Critics on X and Reddit, such as a user on r/OutOfTheLoop (December 6, 2024), decried the casting as “woke,” arguing it deviated from the Brothers Grimm fairy tale. Zegler’s defense of the casting, emphasizing her vocal talent over appearance, was met with further vitriol, as noted in an Allure interview (March 18, 2025).

Her comments about the original Snow White film exacerbated tensions. In 2022, Zegler called the prince a “stalker” and the story “extremely dated” for its focus on romance over female empowerment, per BBC (March 30, 2025). These remarks, resurfaced in 2023 by outlets like Daily Mail (September 5, 2023), were branded a “woke tirade” by critics, alienating Disney fans who cherished the classic. A Variety article (March 26, 2025) noted that her words “trashed the beloved original,” hurting the remake’s nostalgic appeal. On X, users like @JamesYoder (August 13, 2023) called Zegler “the least likable person alive,” reflecting the growing animosity.

Zegler’s political activism added fuel to the fire. On August 12, 2024, she posted “free Palestine” alongside a Snow White trailer promotion, drawing 8.8 million views and prompting Disney to intervene, per Variety. After Trump’s re-election in November 2024, she posted “Fuck Donald Trump” and wished Trump supporters “never know peace,” leading to backlash from conservative pundits like Megyn Kelly, who called for her firing (Forbes, November 16, 2024). Zegler apologized, but Disney hired a social media guru to vet her posts, signaling strained relations with the studio. Jonah Platt, son of producer Marc Platt, publicly criticized her “narcissistic” behavior in a deleted post, a sentiment echoed by Zegler’s West Side Story co-star Ariana DeBose, who later backtracked (Daily Mail, April 2, 2025).

The Fallout: Personal and Professional Toll

The relentless criticism appears to have taken a toll on Zegler’s well-being, contributing to her disheveled appearance. A Reddit post on r/DeppDelusion (January 3, 2025) described the “misogynistic campaign” against her, noting that young actresses like Zegler often face disproportionate hate for speaking out. The pressure of starring in a $270 million film, coupled with death threats to co-star Gal Gadot and costly reshoots, created a high-stress environment, per Variety (March 26, 2025). Zegler’s Broadway run in Romeo + Juliet (2024-2025) demanded grueling 18-hour days, potentially exacerbating her exhaustion.

Financially, Zegler is far from destitute—her West Side Story role and subsequent projects like The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023) have built her a solid net worth, estimated at $3 million by industry blogs. However, the narrative of her being “homeless” reflects a broader public desire to see her humbled after Snow White’s failure. A YouTube video titled “Rachel Zegler BRUTALLY ROASTED For Using Her SICK DOG to Gain SYMPATHY!” (April 26, 2025) accused her of manipulating fans, suggesting her disheveled look was a ploy for attention. No evidence supports this, and the claim she was mistaken for homeless remains unverified, likely exaggerated by clickbait.

The Broader Context: Hollywood and Misogyny

Zegler’s ordeal highlights systemic issues in Hollywood, particularly for young women of color. An Arc UNSW article (undated) framed her as a victim of “cultural misogyny,” noting that studios like Disney often scapegoat actresses for broader creative failures. The Snow White remake’s deviations—replacing dwarfs with “magical creatures” and emphasizing empowerment over romance—were studio decisions, yet Zegler bore the brunt of the backlash. A Reddit user on r/popculturechat (August 2, 2023) pointed out that male actors rarely face such vitriol for similar comments, a sentiment echoed by OnStage Blog (March 14, 2025), which argued Zegler’s confidence is misread as arrogance because of her gender.

Her ethnicity has also been weaponized. Critics on r/OutOfTheLoop (October 4, 2023) accused Disney of “race-swapping,” despite Zegler’s casting being merit-based, as she told Allure. The backlash mirrors that faced by Halle Bailey for The Little Mermaid (2023), suggesting a pattern of targeting non-white actresses in iconic roles. Zegler’s political outspokenness, while polarizing, aligns with her advocacy for marginalized groups, as seen in her defense of women against racism and misogyny, per r/DeppDelusion.

Public Reaction: A Divided Internet

The internet’s response to Zegler’s appearance is split. On X, supporters like @ZeglerFanClub rallied with hashtags like #StandWithRachel, calling her a “talented queen” unfairly targeted. A BBC article (March 30, 2025) quoted film critic Kelechi Ehenulo, who described Zegler as a “victim of culture wars,” noting that Latina actresses often face heightened scrutiny. Conversely, detractors on YouTube and X, such as @anime_esh202 (August 13, 2023), branded her “pretentious” and blamed her for Snow White’s flop, with some reveling in her perceived downfall.

The “homeless” narrative has been criticized as cruel. A Reddit user on r/DeppDelusion argued it reflects a pattern of targeting women like Amber Heard or Anne Hathaway for minor transgressions. Zegler’s attempt to address the hate, including her apology for the Trump post, has done little to quell the vitriol, suggesting a entrenched online campaign against her.

What’s Next for Zegler?

Despite the setbacks, Zegler’s career is far from over. At 23, she has a Golden Globe, a Broadway credit, and upcoming roles in Spellbound (2024) and Y2K (2025). Allure (March 18, 2025) praised her resilience, noting her ability to win over audiences with her voice. However, her relationship with Disney is strained, and BBC’s Victoria Luxford suggested she may not work with the studio again soon. To recover, Zegler may need to navigate Hollywood’s expectations more cautiously, as advised by the social media guru Disney hired.

Her exhausted appearance likely stems from a grueling schedule and emotional strain, not financial ruin. The “homeless” label is a sensationalist exaggeration, but it underscores the pressure on young stars to maintain a flawless image. Zegler’s openness about mental health, seen in her Elle interview (April 19, 2022), suggests she’s grappling with fame’s toll but remains determined to grow.

Conclusion

Rachel Zegler’s recent disheveled appearance and the ensuing “homeless” rumors reflect a perfect storm of professional failure, personal exhaustion, and targeted misogyny. The Snow White debacle, amplified by her outspokenness and the internet’s culture wars, has painted her as a scapegoat for Disney’s missteps. While her talent and resilience are undeniable, the relentless scrutiny has visibly worn her down, as seen in the April 2025 photos. Yet, at 23, Zegler has time to rebound, provided she navigates Hollywood’s treacherous landscape with care. The public’s fascination with her downfall reveals more about society’s treatment of young women than about Zegler herself. As she told Allure, her casting was about her voice, not her appearance—a reminder that her talent, not her detractors, will define her future.