Rachel Zegler, the 23-year-old star of Disney’s live-action Snow White remake, has been no stranger to controversy since her casting was announced in 2021. The film, released on March 21, 2025, flopped at the box office, grossing just $43 million domestically against a $270 million budget, and sparked heated debates over its modernized narrative and Zegler’s outspoken persona. Now, a new rumor claims Zegler “broke down” after The Simpsons aired a parody episode mocking her and the Snow White remake, allegedly titled “Snowwoke: The Reimagining.” But is there any truth to this story, or is it another wave of online misinformation targeting the young actress?
The Rumor’s Origins
The claim surfaced in mid-April 2025 through YouTube videos with titles like “Rachel Zegler BREAKS DOWN After THE SIMPSONS Roasts Snow White!” and “Rachel Zegler LOSES CONTROL After SIMPSONS Mock Snow White?!” posted between April 14 and April 20, 2025. These videos, amplified by X posts from users like @PhilipAucoin1 and @ValidatedIdeas1, allege that a Simpsons episode savagely parodied Disney’s Snow White remake, focusing on its “woke” reimagining and Zegler’s role, leaving her “devastated” and “unhinged.” Some sources, like a todaycnews.com article, claim Zegler felt “betrayed” by Disney’s failure to defend her, citing unverified sources and her emotional state amid the film’s poor performance.
However, a Reddit thread on r/TheSimpsons, dated April 18, 2025, debunks this narrative, noting that no such episode aired in 2025. A user clarified that the parody referenced may be a misattributed clip from a 2009 Simpsons episode, predating Zegler’s casting and the remake’s production. The thread emphasizes that The Simpsons, owned by Disney since the 2019 Fox acquisition, is unlikely to mock a major Disney investment like Snow White, especially so soon after its release. Animation timelines, which take months to produce, further make a 2025 parody targeting Zegler implausible. The rumor appears to be clickbait, exploiting Zegler’s controversies for engagement.
Zegler and the Snow White Controversy
Zegler, a Latina actress of Colombian and Polish descent, faced backlash from the moment she was cast as Snow White, with critics arguing her ethnicity didn’t match the character’s “skin as white as snow” description, despite the remake redefining the name’s origin. Her 2022 comments at Disney’s D23 Expo, where she called the 1937 film’s prince “stalker-like” and its gender roles “dated,” ignited further outrage, with clips going viral on TikTok and X. Zegler clarified to Variety in 2024 that her remarks were misconstrued, emphasizing the remake’s balance of love and leadership, but the damage was done. The film, directed by Marc Webb, reimagined Snow White as a feminist leader reclaiming her kingdom, replaced the prince with a thief (Andrew Burnap), and used CGI “magical creatures” instead of dwarfs, prompting criticism for straying from the original.
The film’s troubles extended beyond creative choices. Production faced delays from a set fire, the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, and reshoots in 2024, inflating costs. Zegler’s political activism, including an August 2024 X post stating “and always remember, free Palestine” alongside Snow White promotion, sparked tensions with co-star Gal Gadot, an Israeli actress, and led to death threats against Gadot, prompting Disney to increase her security. Variety reported that producer Marc Platt met with Zegler to address her social media use, and Disney hired a consultant to vet her posts. Jonah Platt, Marc’s son, later blamed Zegler’s “personal politics” for the film’s box office failure, though no evidence suggests she influenced the script.
The Simpsons and Disney’s Dynamics
The Simpsons has a history of satirizing fairy tales, but a 2025 episode targeting Zegler and Snow White is unsupported by credible evidence. Disney’s ownership of The Simpsons makes such a parody unlikely, as it could undermine a $270 million investment. A Hollywood Reporter review cited in todaycnews.com praises a Simpsons episode for “nailing the absurdity of corporate pandering,” but no episode titled “Snowwoke” or similar appears in the show’s 2025 catalog. The Reddit thread notes that animation production takes months, and a parody responding to a March 2025 release would be logistically challenging. Misinformation, like the todaycnews.com claim that Zegler had a “meltdown,” thrives on exaggerated narratives, with no verified statements from Zegler confirming distress over a parody.
Why the Rumor Persists
Zegler’s polarizing image fuels such rumors. Her outspokenness on politics, including post-2024 election anti-Trump comments, alienated some fans, while her casting and critiques of the original Snow White made her a “culture war” target, as film critic Kelechi Ehenulo told the BBC. Supporters like Melissa Barrera and Halle Bailey have defended her, noting that actors of color, especially women, face disproportionate backlash. The Snow White remake’s 40% Rotten Tomatoes score and review-bombing campaigns reflect broader resistance to Disney’s live-action remakes, with Zegler becoming a scapegoat for its failure. Clickbait videos exploit this, fabricating emotional breakdowns to capitalize on her scrutiny.
The Bigger Picture
The rumor of Zegler breaking down over a Simpsons parody is a baseless exaggeration, rooted in misinformation and the toxic discourse surrounding Snow White. Zegler’s performance, praised by outlets like Jacobin for its “sparkling” quality, remains a highlight despite the film’s flaws. As she moves to her West End debut in Evita in summer 2025, her resilience shines through. The saga underscores Hollywood’s challenges in navigating diverse casting, modernized classics, and online outrage, with young actresses like Zegler bearing the brunt of cultural divides.
