Hollywood has been buzzing with drama lately, and the latest controversy involves comedic icon Jack Black and Snow White star Rachel Zegler. Following the catastrophic failure of Disney’s live-action Snow White remake, which hit theaters on March 21, 2025, tensions in Tinseltown have reached a boiling point. Jack Black, known for his larger-than-life personality and roles in films like School of Rock and Kung Fu Panda, has reportedly taken a sharp jab at Zegler, the 23-year-old actress who has been at the center of the Snow White debacle. Sources now claim that the public roasting has left Zegler reeling—so much so that she’s reportedly sought therapy to cope with the mounting pressure and criticism.
The Snow White Fallout: A Perfect Storm
Disney’s Snow White remake has been nothing short of a disaster. With a reported budget of $270 million—ballooning to $350 million with marketing—the film has grossed a paltry $184.9 million globally as of May 10, 2025, according to the Daily Mail. Critics have lambasted the film, with Rotten Tomatoes showing a 40% approval rating and IMDb users rating it a dismal 1.6 out of 10. The movie faced controversies from the start: production delays, a fire on set, backlash over the use of CGI dwarves, and a modernized plot that turned Snow White into a feminist leader rather than a damsel in distress. While some appreciated the progressive take, many fans felt it strayed too far from the 1937 classic.
Zegler, who played the titular princess, has been the lightning rod for much of the criticism. Her comments calling the original Snow White “outdated” and “not feminist enough” at the 2022 D23 Expo drew ire from conservative circles, with figures like Ben Shapiro arguing that Snow White should be white because of her name. Zegler’s political activism, particularly her vocal support for Palestine—including a post on X in August 2024 that read “and always remember, free Palestine”—further fueled the fire. This stance put her at odds with co-star Gal Gadot, a proud Israeli and former IDF instructor, leading to a rumored feud that culminated in Zegler publicly slamming Gadot in a viral YouTube video on May 7, 2025. In the video, Zegler accused Gadot of using her platform to “silence others,” a move that many saw as the final straw in their deteriorating relationship.
Jack Black Enters the Fray
Jack Black, who has largely stayed out of Hollywood controversies, made headlines this week with a scathing public roast of Zegler. On May 8, 2025, during an appearance on the No Filter podcast with host Zack Peter—who previously blamed Zegler’s outspoken politics for Snow White’s failure—Black didn’t hold back. “Rachel’s got talent, no doubt, but she’s gotta learn to read the room,” Black reportedly said, according to a source familiar with the episode. “You don’t bite the hand that feeds you, especially when that hand is Disney’s. She’s acting like she’s the queen of the world, but Snow White was more like a court jester—entertaining for all the wrong reasons.”
Black’s comments didn’t stop there. He allegedly poked fun at Zegler’s handling of the Snow White press tour, saying, “I’ve done my share of wild press tours, but I never trashed the movie I was promoting. She’s out here calling the original film ‘backwards’ while starring in a remake that looks like it was made by a Magic 8 Ball—shaky and full of bad decisions.” The roast, which quickly spread across social media platforms like X, drew mixed reactions. Some fans praised Black for his bluntness, with one X user posting, “Jack Black just said what we’re all thinking—Zegler’s ego is out of control!” Others, however, felt the comments were unnecessarily harsh, especially given Zegler’s already fragile public image.
Zegler’s Reported Therapy Journey
The fallout from Black’s roast appears to have taken a significant toll on Zegler. According to an anonymous source close to the actress, cited by People magazine on May 9, 2025, Zegler has reportedly begun therapy to cope with the intense scrutiny and emotional strain of the past few months. “Rachel’s been through a lot,” the source revealed. “The Snow White backlash, the feud with Gal Gadot, and now Jack Black’s comments—it’s all been too much. She’s a young actress who got thrown into the deep end, and she’s struggling to keep her head above water. Therapy is helping her process everything and rebuild her confidence.”
This isn’t the first time Zegler has faced personal challenges amid her rising fame. In April 2025, she made headlines for crowdsourcing help on Instagram for her sick dog, Lenny, revealing the emotional toll of dealing with her pet’s illness. She’s also faced racist abuse and harassment over her casting as Snow White, with trolls showing up at her home, as reported by SlashFilm. The combination of professional setbacks and personal attacks has clearly weighed heavily on the young star, and Black’s roast may have been the tipping point.
A Divided Hollywood Responds
Hollywood’s response to the drama has been predictably polarized. Some celebrities have rallied behind Zegler, echoing the support she received earlier in the Snow White controversy. Melissa Barrera, who faced her own backlash after being fired from the Scream franchise for her political comments, posted on X on March 26, 2025, to defend Zegler, a sentiment that has resurfaced amid this latest scandal. “Rachel doesn’t deserve this,” Barrera wrote. “She’s a talented young woman who’s being vilified for speaking her truth.” Similarly, Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver, on their podcast Miss Me?, argued that Zegler’s willingness to stand up for her beliefs aligns with Disney’s own narratives of resilience.
Others, however, have been less sympathetic. Sean Ono Lennon, son of John Lennon, labeled Zegler a “disconnected brat” on March 31, 2025, following Snow White’s box office bomb, a sentiment that seems to resonate with Black’s recent comments. Conservative commentator Russell Brand also called Zegler “haughty” in a March 26, 2025, X post, accusing her of being manipulated by Hollywood’s agenda. Even Zegler’s West Side Story co-star Ariana DeBose stirred speculation by sharing a quote on Instagram on April 1, 2025, that appeared to criticize Zegler’s “narcissism,” though DeBose later clarified she was unaware of the quote’s context.
What’s Next for Zegler?
Despite the relentless criticism, Zegler is attempting to move forward. She’s lined up a new role in the indie comedy-drama She Gets It From Me opposite Marisa Tomei, playing the daughter of Tomei’s ex-punk rocker character, as reported by Variety on April 30, 2025. The film, which follows a young woman’s chaotic search for her birth mother, marks a shift to smaller, independent projects for Zegler—a move some see as a strategic retreat after the Snow White fiasco. She’s also set to star in a West End production of Evita at the London Palladium, though the Daily Mail reported sluggish ticket sales, suggesting her public image may still be a hurdle.
For Disney, the Snow White disaster has had broader implications. The studio has paused production on a planned live-action Tangled, signaling a reevaluation of its live-action remake strategy. The film’s failure, compounded by Zegler’s controversies, has left the House of Mouse in damage control mode, with insiders questioning whether the company can regain its footing in an increasingly polarized cultural landscape.
A Star Under Fire
Rachel Zegler’s journey in Hollywood has been a rollercoaster, from her breakout Golden Globe-winning role in West Side Story to the Snow White catastrophe and now this latest chapter involving Jack Black. While her talent—particularly her vocal prowess and screen presence—has been widely praised, her outspokenness and political activism have made her a target in an industry that often punishes those who don’t conform. Black’s roast, while biting, reflects a broader sentiment among some in Hollywood that Zegler’s actions have contributed to her own downfall.
As Zegler reportedly turns to therapy to navigate this tumultuous period, the question remains: can she rise above the criticism and reclaim her place in Hollywood? Or will the weight of controversies like this one with Jack Black define her career for years to come? Only time will tell, but for now, Zegler’s story serves as a stark reminder of the pressures young stars face in the unforgiving spotlight of fame.
