In a dramatic clash that has set the internet ablaze, actress and conservative commentator Brett Cooper has publicly criticized Rachel Zegler following the announcement of her own starring role as Snow White in The Daily Wire’s Snow White and the Evil Queen. The competing project, positioned as a traditional retelling of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, comes as a direct challenge to Disney’s live-action remake of Snow White, starring Zegler, which has been mired in controversy since its announcement. Cooper’s sharp remarks, made during a May 2024 episode of The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast, have reignited debates about the direction of modern fairy tale adaptations, cultural values, and the role of politics in entertainment. Let’s dive into this heated showdown and explore what it means for the future of one of Disney’s most iconic princesses.
The Battle of the Snow Whites
The saga began in October 2023, when The Daily Wire, a conservative media company co-founded by Jeremy Boreing, announced its own live-action adaptation of Snow White. Titled Snow White and the Evil Queen, the film was set to star Brett Cooper, a 23-year-old actress and YouTuber known for her role on The Daily Wire’s The Comments Section. Boreing positioned the project as a return to the “timeless truths” of the original fairy tale, contrasting it with Disney’s version, which he called an “apology for their past” that would “expose children to the popular but destructive lies of the current moment.” Cooper, who also stars as Merlin’s wife in The Daily Wire’s fantasy series The Pendragon Cycle, expressed excitement for the role, stating, “I was raised on the original Grimms’ Fairy Tales, so I’m thrilled that we’re bringing this iconic story to life for the next generation.”
Disney’s Snow White, directed by Marc Webb and released on March 21, 2025, stars Rachel Zegler as the titular princess, with Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen. The film has faced significant backlash since Zegler’s 2022 comments resurfaced, in which she called the 1937 animated classic “weird” and criticized its focus on a love story with a prince who “literally stalks” Snow White. Zegler emphasized that her Snow White would not be “saved by the prince” and would instead focus on female empowerment, a stance that drew ire from fans who felt she was disrespecting the original. The controversy was compounded by Disney’s initial decision to replace the seven dwarfs with “magical creatures,” a move later adjusted to include CGI-rendered dwarfs after backlash from actor Peter Dinklage and others in the dwarfism community.
Cooper’s announcement came amidst this turmoil, with The Daily Wire capitalizing on the discontent surrounding Disney’s remake. A teaser trailer for Snow White and the Evil Queen, filmed in Europe with Cooper in a traditional Snow White costume, promised a “back-to-basics” approach that would avoid modern political messaging. However, the project’s fate took a turn when Cooper announced her departure from The Daily Wire in December 2024, effectively canceling the film. Reports suggest creative differences were at play, with Cooper advocating for an apolitical retelling while the company allegedly pushed for subplots designed to provoke progressive audiences.
Cooper’s Fiery Critique of Zegler
Despite the cancellation of her project, Cooper didn’t hold back in her critique of Zegler and Disney’s approach. During her appearance on The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast in May 2024, Cooper addressed the controversy head-on. “People were very disappointed, very upset about the way Disney was rolling out this project,” she said. “As somebody who is more traditional… it’s sad to watch these stories be completely destructed for that [woke] agenda.” Cooper’s comments specifically targeted Zegler’s remarks, accusing her of undermining the essence of the Snow White story. “It’s not just about modernizing a character—it’s about erasing what made the story resonate for generations,” Cooper added, highlighting her belief that Zegler’s feminist reimagining discarded the values of love, kindness, and resilience that defined the original tale.
Cooper’s critique echoed sentiments from fans and conservative commentators who have labeled Disney’s remake as “woke.” Zegler’s comments, particularly her dismissal of the prince as a “stalker” and her assertion that “it’s no longer 1937,” have been seen by some as a rejection of the nostalgia and traditional storytelling that Disney’s 1937 film represents. David Hand, son of the original film’s co-director, called the remake “insulting,” claiming his father and Walt Disney would be “turning in their graves.” Cooper’s remarks amplified this narrative, positioning her as a defender of the classic fairy tale against what she and The Daily Wire see as a progressive overhaul.
Zegler’s Response and the Fallout
Zegler, who has faced relentless scrutiny since her casting, has not directly addressed Cooper’s comments. However, rumors and viral reports have suggested she was “furious” about The Daily Wire’s competing project, though there’s no evidence she has commented on it or is even aware of Cooper’s film. A Reddit post on r/saltierthankrayt in December 2023 debunked claims that Zegler was “pissed” about being “replaced” by Cooper, pointing out that the two projects were entirely separate and that Zegler likely didn’t even know who Cooper was. The narrative of a personal feud seems to have been fueled by social media and clickbait headlines rather than any concrete interaction between the two actresses.
Disney’s Snow White premiered to mixed reviews, earning a 40% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praised Zegler’s “luminous star turn” but criticized the film’s “bashful treatment of the source material” and “dopey stylistic choices,” including the CGI dwarfs and Gadot’s uneven performance as the Evil Queen. The film’s box office performance was underwhelming, with some, like producer Marc Platt’s son Jonah Platt, blaming Zegler for dragging her “personal politics” into the promotional campaign. Zegler’s pro-Palestine stance, expressed in a 2024 X post, and her comments on the 2024 US presidential election further fueled backlash, making her a lightning rod for cultural debates.
Meanwhile, Cooper has moved on to launch The Brett Cooper Show, a new digital platform that debuted on January 30, 2025, amassing over 730,000 followers before its first video. Her departure from The Daily Wire, which she described as her own choice, has not slowed her career trajectory, though it has left fans of her Snow White project disappointed. Some speculate that creative differences over the film’s direction—particularly The Daily Wire’s alleged intent to add provocative subplots—led to her exit, a claim that aligns with her stated desire for an apolitical retelling.
A Cultural Divide in Hollywood
The clash between Cooper and Zegler underscores a broader cultural divide in entertainment. Disney’s remake, with its focus on modern values and representation, reflects a push for progressive storytelling, while The Daily Wire’s project aimed to appeal to conservative audiences seeking traditional narratives. This divide has played out in other Disney remakes, such as The Little Mermaid (2023), where Halle Bailey’s casting as Ariel drew similar criticism for its departure from the original’s aesthetic. Cooper’s comments tap into a sentiment among some fans that Disney is prioritizing political agendas over the magic of its classics, a view shared by critics like Boreing, who accused Disney of exposing children to “destructive lies.”
However, the narrative isn’t as black-and-white as it seems. Zegler’s comments, while controversial, reflect a broader trend of reimagining fairy tales for contemporary audiences, a practice Disney has employed in films like Maleficent (2014) and Beauty and the Beast (2017). Her emphasis on empowerment resonates with many who see traditional princess narratives as outdated, while Cooper’s defense of the original tale appeals to those who value its historical and emotional significance. The debate highlights the challenge of adapting beloved stories in an era where cultural values are rapidly evolving.
What’s Next for Snow White?
With The Daily Wire’s Snow White and the Evil Queen shelved, Disney’s version remains the only adaptation to reach audiences, despite its rocky reception. Zegler continues to navigate the fallout, with her career trajectory uncertain following the film’s lukewarm performance. Cooper, on the other hand, is forging a new path with her digital platform, leaving open the question of whether she’ll return to acting in a similar role. The Snow White saga has become a battleground for larger cultural tensions, with both actresses caught in the crossfire of a polarized entertainment landscape.
Ultimately, the feud between Cooper and Zegler—real or manufactured—reveals the high stakes of reimagining a classic like Snow White. As Hollywood grapples with balancing tradition and innovation, the princess’s story remains as divisive as ever. Whether you side with Cooper’s traditionalist stance or Zegler’s modern vision, one thing is clear: Snow White’s legacy is far from a fairy-tale ending in 2025.
