Rachel Zegler, the 23-year-old star of Disney’s live-action Snow White remake, has found herself at the center of yet another controversy as leaked emails reveal that she was explicitly warned by studio executives about her public comments regarding the film. The revelations, which surfaced just weeks after the film’s disappointing box office debut in March 2025, shed new light on the behind-the-scenes tensions that have plagued the project since its inception. As Zegler navigates a firestorm of backlash—ranging from her political posts to her critique of the original fairy tale—what do these emails mean for her career, and how will they impact the already beleaguered Snow White remake?

A Troubled Production from the Start

Disney’s live-action Snow White, directed by Marc Webb and starring Zegler as the titular princess alongside Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, was intended to be a triumphant reimagining of the 1937 animated classic. However, the film has been mired in controversy for years, facing criticism over everything from its casting choices to its perceived “woke” updates. Zegler, a Latina actress of Colombian descent, endured racist backlash from trolls who argued she wasn’t “white enough” to play Snow White—a criticism echoed by conservative commentators like Ben Shapiro, who claimed the character’s name demanded a white actress. The film also faced scrutiny for its depiction of the seven dwarfs, with actor Peter Dinklage publicly criticizing the story’s outdated portrayal of dwarfism, prompting Disney to render the characters as CGI.

The most significant controversy, however, stemmed from Zegler’s own words. In a 2022 interview with Extra TV at Disney’s D23 Expo, Zegler called the original Snow White story “weird” and “dated,” particularly its focus on a love story with Prince Florian, whom she jokingly labeled a “stalker.” She emphasized that the remake would present a more empowered Snow White, stating, “She’s not dreaming about true love.” These comments, while intended to highlight the film’s modernized narrative, sparked outrage among fans of the classic, including David Hand Jr., son of the original film’s director, who accused Disney of disrespecting his father’s legacy. On X, users branded Zegler “ungrateful” and “disconnected,” with some vowing to boycott the film.

The Leaked Emails: A Studio in Panic Mode

The latest bombshell in the Snow White saga comes from a series of leaked emails, first reported by Variety on March 25, 2025, which reveal that Disney executives were deeply concerned about Zegler’s public statements long before the film’s release. According to the emails, producer Marc Platt and other senior Disney figures warned Zegler as early as August 2024 to temper her social media activity and public comments after she posted a message on X promoting the film’s trailer, followed by a separate post that read, “and always remember, free Palestine.” The post, which garnered 8.8 million views, drew immediate backlash, particularly given the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and the fact that Zegler’s co-star, Gal Gadot, is Israeli and a vocal supporter of her homeland.

The emails show that Platt flew to New York to meet with Zegler, urging her to delete the post out of concern that it could alienate audiences and exacerbate tensions with Gadot, who reportedly received death threats following Zegler’s statement, necessitating increased security for her and her family. Zegler, however, stood her ground, refusing to remove the post. One email from Platt to a Disney executive, dated August 2024, reads, “Rachel’s comments are putting the entire project at risk. We need to control the narrative before it spirals further.” Another email reveals that Disney hired a “social media guru” to vet Zegler’s posts during the press tour, a move that underscores the studio’s growing anxiety over her outspokenness.

Zegler’s political comments didn’t stop there. Following Donald Trump’s reelection in November 2024, she posted on Instagram, “Trump supporters will never know peace,” and in another post, wrote, “F— Donald Trump.” These statements, while reflective of her Generation Z audience’s views—polls show that millennials and Gen Z are more likely to support Palestinian rights and oppose Trump—further fueled the backlash. Conservative critics, including journalist Megyn Kelly, who called Zegler a “pig,” and Sean Ono Lennon, who labeled her a “spoiled, ungrateful brat,” accused her of sabotaging the film. Jonah Platt, Marc Platt’s son, went further, blaming Zegler’s “narcissism” and “immature desires” for the film’s poor performance in a since-deleted Instagram post, claiming she “hijacked the conversation” at the expense of the crew and cast.

A Box Office Flop and a Scapegoat Narrative

When Snow White finally hit theaters in March 2025, it opened to a dismal $42.2 million domestically against a reported $270 million production budget, with global earnings totaling just $143.1 million. Critics panned the film, with The Independent’s Clarisse Loughrey giving it a one-star review, calling it “lazy” and “visually repellent.” While some praised Zegler’s performance as the best part of the film, others, including Disney insiders, pointed to her as the reason for its failure. The Hollywood Reporter noted that the film had been “under fire for years” due to Zegler’s comments and the studio’s “progressive creative decisions,” while Variety reported that Disney executives viewed Zegler as a “liability.”

The leaked emails have only intensified this narrative, painting Zegler as a reckless young star whose actions undermined a multi-million-dollar project. However, this scapegoating has sparked a counter-narrative among Zegler’s supporters, who argue that the film’s failure cannot be pinned on her alone. Film critic Kelechi Ehenulo, speaking to the BBC, described Zegler as a victim of “culture wars,” noting that actors from underrepresented backgrounds often become “targets for backlash.” Others, including an opinion piece in USA Today, have pointed out that Zegler’s single “free Palestine” post was unlikely to tank a film already burdened by a lackluster trailer, poor reviews, and a broader decline in interest for Disney’s live-action remakes.

Support Amid the Storm

Despite the backlash, Zegler has found allies in Hollywood. Pedro Pascal, who praised her Golden Globe-winning role in West Side Story, publicly called her an “icon” on Instagram, though his support drew criticism from some who accused him of inconsistency for not backing The Mandalorian co-star Gina Carano during her own controversy. Other stars, including Helen Mirren and Ariana Grande, reportedly reached out to Zegler privately, while Kit Connor, her co-star in the 2024 Broadway run of Romeo + Juliet, told Teen Vogue that crew members from Snow White had “only ever sung Rachel’s praises.” Even Ariana DeBose, Zegler’s West Side Story co-star, clarified a controversial Instagram post in April 2025 that appeared to criticize Zegler, claiming she was unaware of its context and had not intended to target her.

What’s Next for Rachel Zegler?

The leaked emails have undoubtedly cast a shadow over Zegler’s career, raising questions about her future in Hollywood. At 23, she remains a talented actress with a Golden Globe to her name and a string of high-profile roles, including The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. However, the Snow White debacle may make studios hesitant to cast her in major projects, fearing similar controversies. Disney’s reaction—hiring a social media monitor and attempting to control her narrative—suggests that she may face increased scrutiny moving forward.

Yet Zegler’s story is far from over. Her refusal to delete her “free Palestine” post, despite pressure from Disney, has earned her admiration from those who value her authenticity and willingness to speak out on issues like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As Vanity Fair noted, the more Disney tries to blame Zegler, the more she emerges as an “icon” for a generation that values social justice and representation. Whether she can channel this support into a career resurgence remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Rachel Zegler is not going quietly. As Hollywood grapples with its own cultural divides, her journey will be one to watch.