The entertainment world is no stranger to controversy, but few stories have sparked as much debate as Disney’s live-action remake of Snow White and its lead actress, Rachel Zegler. The $270 million project, released on March 21, 2025, has faced relentless scrutiny—from casting decisions to its progressive reimagining of the 1937 animated classic. The latest chapter in this saga unfolded when Family Guy, the irreverent animated series known for its biting satire, took aim at the film in a recent episode, prompting a fiery response from Zegler. This incident, coupled with ongoing criticism of the actress and the film, underscores the volatile intersection of Hollywood, social media, and cultural politics.

The Family Guy Roast: A Satirical Jab

In its 23rd season, Family Guy aired an episode that mercilessly lampooned Disney’s Snow White remake. The segment, which aired shortly before April 20, 2025, featured the Griffin family watching a parody trailer for the film. The skit mocked the production’s hefty budget, its CGI dwarfs, and Zegler’s public comments about the original 1937 film. In one scene, a character quipped, “Disney spent a quarter of a billion dollars so Snow White could lecture us about empowerment instead of, you know, singing about apples.” The roast also took aim at Zegler’s vocal political stances, including her 2024 social media post advocating for Palestine, with a throwaway line about Snow White “tweeting manifestos between takes.”

The Family Guy jab was not an isolated critique. The show has a history of targeting Hollywood’s missteps, and Disney’s Snow White has been a lightning rod for criticism since its announcement in 2021. However, the episode’s pointed humor struck a nerve, particularly with Zegler, who has been at the center of the film’s controversies. According to a YouTube video titled “Rachel Zegler GOES OFF After The Family Guy ROASTS Disney Snow WHITE?!” posted on April 20, 2025, the actress took to social media to address the roast, igniting a fresh wave of debate.

Zegler’s Response: Defiant and Unapologetic

On April 19, 2025, Zegler posted a series of messages on X, expressing frustration with the Family Guy skit and the broader narrative surrounding her involvement in Snow White. “I’m so tired of being the punchline for doing my job and speaking my truth,” she wrote. “This film was made with love, and I’m proud of it, even if some cartoon thinks it’s funny to mock me for it.” She also defended her progressive views, stating, “I won’t apologize for standing up for what I believe in, whether it’s Palestine or reimagining a story for 2025.”

Zegler’s response was both a defense of her work and a critique of the media’s fixation on her. She highlighted the personal toll of the backlash, noting, “I’m 23, and I’ve been dealing with death threats and racism since I was cast. Maybe people could try empathy instead of satire.” Her posts garnered millions of views, with supporters praising her resilience and critics accusing her of playing the victim. The exchange amplified an already polarized discourse, with hashtags like #StandWithRachel and #SnowWhiteFlop trending on X.

The Snow White Controversy: A Timeline of Tensions

To understand the weight of Zegler’s reaction, one must trace the controversies that have dogged Snow White since its inception. In June 2021, Disney announced Zegler, a Latina actress of Colombian and Polish descent, as the lead, prompting immediate backlash from some fans who argued that Snow White, described in the original tale as having “skin as white as snow,” should be played by a white actress. Critics labeled the casting “woke,” while supporters celebrated the diversity. Zegler addressed the racism head-on in a 2024 Variety interview, stating, “A child’s mind doesn’t care about skin color. I grew up with Brandy as Cinderella, and she was my princess.”

The controversy escalated in 2022 when Zegler, speaking at Disney’s D23 Expo, critiqued the 1937 film’s narrative. She described the original Snow White’s love story as “weird” and criticized the prince for “stalking” the heroine. “Our version isn’t about a prince saving her,” she told Extra TV. “It’s about Snow White finding her own strength.” These comments, intended to highlight the remake’s feminist lens, were perceived by some as disrespectful to Disney’s legacy. Clips of the interview went viral, fueling outrage among traditionalists.

Zegler’s social media activity further complicated matters. In August 2024, after the Snow White trailer amassed 120 million views in 24 hours, she posted, “and always remember, free palestine.” The statement, which garnered 8.8 million views, drew ire from some Disney executives, who reportedly asked her to refrain from mixing politics with promotion. According to Variety, producer Marc Platt flew to New York to discuss the post, but Zegler refused to delete it. The decision led to heightened security for her co-star Gal Gadot, who is Israeli, after death threats surfaced. Zegler’s subsequent posts following the 2024 U.S. presidential election, including “F*** Donald Trump,” prompted Disney to assign her a social media consultant to vet her content before the film’s release.

The film itself faced additional criticism. The decision to replace the seven dwarfs with CGI characters, rather than casting actors with dwarfism, sparked accusations of ableism. Costly reshoots and a reported budget exceeding $350 million with marketing raised stakes further. When Snow White premiered, it earned a disappointing $43 million domestically and $87 million globally in its opening weekend, far below expectations. Reviews were mixed, with some praising its visuals but others calling it a “soulless rehash.” Disney is projected to lose $115 million, and a planned Tangled remake has been shelved.

The Broader Context: Hollywood and Cultural Wars

The Family Guy roast and Zegler’s response are symptomatic of broader tensions in Hollywood. Disney’s strategy of remaking animated classics with modern sensibilities has been both praised and vilified. Films like 2017’s Beauty and the Beast and 2023’s The Little Mermaid updated their heroines to reflect contemporary values, but Snow White’s overt feminism and Zegler’s outspokenness made it a flashpoint in the culture wars. Film critic Kelechi Ehenulo, quoted by the BBC, described Zegler as a “victim of culture wars,” noting that actors from underrepresented backgrounds often face disproportionate backlash.

Zegler’s political activism, particularly her pro-Palestine stance, has also drawn scrutiny. While some fans admire her courage, others argue it alienated potential audiences. Disney’s reported discomfort with her posts reflects a larger challenge for studios navigating stars’ social media presence. As Variety reported, the studio’s decision to scale back Snow White’s premiere to a press-free event in Segovia, Spain, was seen as an attempt to minimize further controversy. Yet, the Family Guy skit suggests the film’s troubles remain fodder for public consumption.

Support and Backlash: A Divided Audience

Zegler’s supporters argue she has been unfairly targeted. Actress Melissa Barrera, fired from Scream 7 for similar political posts, called Zegler “cool as hell” on Instagram. Journalist Mark Harris labeled Disney’s alleged blame-shifting a “hit job,” and over 50 journalists signed a letter condemning Variety’s coverage as biased. On X, fans rallied with messages like, “Rachel Zegler RULES. She’s 23 and standing up to a billion-dollar studio.” These voices frame Zegler as a young woman unfairly scapegoated for a corporate miscalculation.

Conversely, critics argue Zegler’s comments and behavior have harmed the film. An anonymous studio source told Vulture, “Rachel Zegler should not be playing Snow White,” citing her polarizing presence. The Daily Mail reported that Disney “doesn’t know what to do” with her, and some fans on Reddit questioned her acting credentials, with one user writing, “Her singing is amazing, but as an actress, she’s pretty awful.” The Family Guy roast, while exaggerated, tapped into these sentiments, amplifying the narrative that Zegler’s “woke” persona doomed the film.

What’s Next for Zegler and Disney?

Despite the turmoil, Zegler’s career shows no signs of slowing. She is set to star as Eva Perón in a West End revival of Evita in summer 2025, a casting that has already drawn criticism from Madonna, who played the role in the 1996 film. Zegler’s recent appearance reading a CBeebies Bedtime Story, where she told children, “To be a powerful princess, you just need to be wonderful, brilliant you,” reinforced her appeal to younger audiences. At 23, with a Golden Globe for West Side Story, her talent is undeniable, but her outspokenness may continue to polarize.

For Disney, Snow White’s failure raises questions about its remake strategy. The studio’s pivot to more controlled press events and its reported frustration with Zegler suggest a desire to avoid similar PR nightmares. Yet, as film critic Conor Riley told the BBC, the film’s timing—landing “at the intersection of Hollywood’s creative stagnation, racial politics, and America’s ideological divide”—made controversy inevitable.

Conclusion: A Tale of Resilience and Reckoning

Rachel Zegler’s clash with Family Guy is more than a celebrity spat; it’s a microcosm of Hollywood’s struggle to balance art, commerce, and politics in a hyper-connected world. Zegler’s defiance in the face of satire and scrutiny reflects both her strength and the challenges of navigating fame at Brasile. Whether she emerges from this ordeal as a pariah or a pioneer remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the Snow White saga is far from its happily ever after.