On April 2, 2025, Joe Rogan, the popular host of The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, sparked a heated discussion about Disney’s live-action remake of Snow White, which has become one of the most controversial films of the year. During a conversation with comedian Kurt Metzger, Rogan suggested that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, should investigate the film’s production for mismanaging its staggering $250 million budget. While the film’s lead actress, Rachel Zegler, has been widely blamed for its poor performance, Rogan and Metzger argued that the issues run far deeper than the 23-year-old star’s actions. This article delves into the Snow White controversy, exploring the film’s financial failure, the backlash against Zegler, and the broader systemic issues in Hollywood that Rogan’s comments highlight, as of April 9, 2025.

Snow White: A Box Office Disaster

Disney’s live-action Snow White, released on March 21, 2025, was intended to be a nostalgic reimagining of the 1937 animated classic, which holds a special place in the studio’s history as its first feature-length animated film. Starring Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, the film was poised to capitalize on the success of previous Disney live-action remakes like Beauty and the Beast (2017) and The Lion King (2019). However, with a reported budget of $250 million—some sources even cite $270 million—the film has been a financial disappointment, grossing just $69.8 million domestically and $145.6 million worldwide after two weekends, according to Box Office Mojo. This performance puts Disney on track to lose an estimated $115 million, a stark contrast to the billion-dollar hauls of its earlier remakes.

The film’s opening weekend was particularly dismal, earning $43 million domestically and $87 million globally, as reported by Variety. To put this into perspective, Joker: Folie à Deux (2024), another high-profile flop, opened to $121 million worldwide with a $200 million budget—still outperforming Snow White despite its own struggles. Critics have panned the film, with Rotten Tomatoes giving it a 40% score, and audiences have been equally harsh, with some review sites labeling it one of the least-liked films of all time. On social media platforms like X, fans have expressed disappointment over the film’s visuals, particularly the CGI-rendered dwarfs, which Rogan himself described as looking “bad” and “not real at all” during his podcast.

The Rachel Zegler Controversy: A Scapegoat for Deeper Issues?

Much of the blame for Snow White’s failure has been directed at Rachel Zegler, the young actress who rose to fame with her Golden Globe-winning role in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story (2021). Zegler, who is of Colombian and Polish descent, faced backlash from the moment her casting was announced in 2021. Critics argued that she wasn’t “white enough” to play Snow White, a character traditionally described as having “skin as white as snow” in the original fairy tale. This racist criticism mirrors the backlash faced by Halle Bailey when she was cast as Ariel in The Little Mermaid (2023), highlighting a troubling pattern in Hollywood where non-white actresses are disproportionately targeted.

Zegler’s comments about the original Snow White film further fueled the controversy. In a 2022 interview with Variety at the D23 Expo, she described the 1937 film as “extremely dated” in its portrayal of women and called the Prince a “stalker” for his pursuit of Snow White. She emphasized that the remake would focus on Snow White’s empowerment, stating, “She’s not dreaming about true love. She’s dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be.” These remarks were branded a “woke tirade” by outlets like the Daily Mail, and some fans accused Zegler of disrespecting Disney’s legacy. David Hand Jr., son of the original Snow White director, even claimed that Walt Disney and his father “would be turning in their graves” over the remake.

Zegler’s political statements added more fuel to the fire. In August 2024, after the Snow White trailer garnered 120 million views in 24 hours, she posted on X, “and always remember, free Palestine,” a comment that amassed 8.8 million views and drew both praise and condemnation. This statement created tension with her co-star Gal Gadot, an Israeli actress and former member of the Israel Defense Forces, who has publicly supported Israel. According to Variety, the film’s producer, Marc Platt, flew to New York to address Zegler’s post, and Disney reportedly increased security for Gadot after she received death threats. Zegler stood her ground, refusing to delete the post, though she later began working with a Disney-hired social media guru to vet her posts before the film’s release.

Following the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Zegler posted on Instagram, “Fuck Donald Trump,” and “May Trump supporters … never know peace,” prompting further backlash. She later apologized, stating, “I let my emotions get the best of me. Hatred and anger have caused us to move further and further away from peace and understanding.” However, the damage was done. Jonah Platt, Marc Platt’s son, publicly criticized Zegler in a now-deleted Instagram post, claiming her actions “clearly hurt the film’s box office” and accusing her of “narcissism” for “hijacking the conversation” at the expense of the crew and blue-collar workers who depended on the film’s success.

Joe Rogan and Kurt Metzger: Shifting the Blame

During the April 2 episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan and Metzger offered a different perspective on the Snow White debacle. While acknowledging Zegler’s missteps, they argued that the film’s failure cannot be pinned solely on her. “If you notice the spin on it, they’re putting it all on her,” Metzger said. “I mean, I’m sure she sucks, but she is very young. She didn’t write that script though, right?” Rogan agreed, suggesting that Disney failed to guide Zegler, a young actress navigating the spotlight. “Imagine you spent $250 million, and you get some young girl, and you don’t kind of talk to her about like, ‘Hey, you know, don’t get political. You’re young, and I know you have opinions about things, but this should just be about the movie,’” Rogan remarked.

Rogan’s most striking comment came when he suggested that DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk, should investigate the film’s production. “Wait, how much did this cost? They should get DOGE to look at this movie. They spent $250 million bucks making that movie?” he exclaimed. DOGE, a U.S. government initiative focused on cutting inefficiencies, has been championed by Musk, whom Rogan has previously praised for exposing wasteful spending. Rogan’s call for an investigation, while likely tongue-in-cheek, reflects a broader frustration with Hollywood’s bloated budgets and questionable decision-making.

Beyond Zegler: Systemic Issues in Snow White’s Production

Rogan and Metzger also pointed to other factors contributing to Snow White’s failure, many of which predate Zegler’s controversies. One major point of contention was the film’s use of CGI to depict the seven dwarfs, a decision that sparked backlash from fans and actors alike. In 2022, Peter Dinklage, an actor with dwarfism, criticized the remake on the WTF with Marc Maron podcast, calling the decision to cast a Latina actress as Snow White while still using the “Seven Dwarfs” trope “f**king backward.” Disney responded by opting for CGI dwarfs, with actor Martin Klebba providing the motion capture for all seven roles. However, the final product was widely panned, with Rogan noting on his podcast, “Oh, wow, that does look bad. It doesn’t look real at all.”

The film’s production was also plagued by challenges, including costly reshoots, a writers’ strike, and even a literal fire on set, as reported by Teen Vogue. These issues ballooned the budget to $250 million, making Snow White one of Disney’s most expensive live-action remakes. Critics have questioned whether the film’s modernized themes—such as Snow White being part of a rebellion against the Evil Queen rather than seeking a husband—alienated audiences who were expecting a nostalgic retelling. Film critic Victoria Luxford told BBC News that criticizing the original film “was never going to work out well,” as Disney remakes are marketed on nostalgia, and Zegler’s comments may have set the wrong tone.

A Broader Critique of Hollywood

Rogan’s comments about Snow White reflect a growing skepticism about Hollywood’s reliance on remakes and its handling of young talent. The film’s failure is emblematic of a larger trend: studios recycling old intellectual property (IP) with massive budgets, often without a clear vision. As Jessica Winter wrote in The New Yorker, Snow White “personifies Hollywood’s status as a bottle-and-can redemption center for moldering I.P.” The lack of new ideas, combined with poor execution—such as the subpar CGI and tonal missteps—has left audiences lukewarm, as evidenced by the film’s box office numbers.

Moreover, the treatment of Zegler raises questions about Hollywood’s double standards. While her political comments were controversial, they were not the sole reason for the film’s failure, yet she has borne the brunt of the blame. Film critic Kelechi Ehenulo told BBC News that Zegler has become a victim of “culture wars,” with actors from underrepresented backgrounds often becoming “targets for backlash.” This is particularly evident when compared to the lack of scrutiny faced by white actresses in similar Disney remakes, such as Emma Watson (Beauty and the Beast) or Lily James (Cinderella). The racist undertones of the criticism against Zegler, coupled with the misogyny she has faced, highlight systemic issues in the industry that go beyond one film.

What’s Next for Snow White and Rachel Zegler?

As of April 9, 2025, Snow White continues to struggle at the box office, and Disney is reportedly bracing for a $115 million loss. The fallout has already impacted future projects, with the Daily Mail reporting that the failure of Snow White has “killed off hopes” for another princess live-action movie, such as a remake of Tangled. For Zegler, the controversy has taken a toll. She was recently photographed in New York City looking “deflated,” and while some fans have defended her performance—critics have noted that she is the “best thing” about the film—her public image has been battered.

Rogan’s suggestion of a DOGE investigation, while likely not serious, underscores a broader call for accountability in Hollywood. The $250 million budget for Snow White raises valid questions about how such a massive investment could result in a film that looks “terrible,” as Rogan put it. While Zegler’s actions may have contributed to the negative discourse, the film’s failure is a collective one, involving decisions made by Disney executives, producers, and creative teams long before Zegler’s social media posts.

Conclusion

The Snow White controversy is a microcosm of larger issues in Hollywood: the reliance on nostalgia-driven remakes, the mismanagement of massive budgets, and the unfair scapegoating of young, underrepresented talent. Joe Rogan’s comments on his podcast, while provocative, highlight a need for greater scrutiny of how studios operate, especially when a $250 million investment yields such disappointing results. Rachel Zegler may have made mistakes, but as Rogan and Metzger pointed out, she is a young actress who neither wrote the script nor controlled the production. The real question is whether Hollywood will learn from Snow White’s failure—or continue to repeat the same mistakes, leaving talented actors like Zegler to bear the brunt of the fallout. For now, the fairytale seems far from a happy ending, both for Disney and for the industry at large.