Cinderella actress Brandy gave some powerful advice for Snow White star Rachel Zegler amid backlash on her casting.
Rachel Zegler has endured criticism from fans following her casting in Disney’s Snow White.
Brandy also endured harsh criticism and racist comments even before the premiere of her movie.
Rachel Zegler’s upcoming musical fantasy film Snow White is not yet here, but it is already earning criticisms from fans and the majority is directed at her casting. The live-action adaptation of the beloved fairy tale is not the first of its kind; many filmmakers have attempted to bring it to the big screen in the past.
Credits: Rachel Zegler in Snow White / Walt Disney Studios
The actress, who is of Colombian and Polish descent, has faced numerous racist comments regarding her upcoming portrayal of Snow White, a fictional character that many fans believe isn’t fit for her to play.
Snow White’s Rachel Zegler Receives Powerful Advice From Cinderella Star Brandy
Amid the backlash, actress Rachel Zegler remains strong and resolute. As a child, she has experienced racial discrimination due to her background, but she was able to overcome the hurdles and finally make a name for herself in Hollywood.
The 23-year-old star is also not bothered by haters who couldn’t picture a Latina transforming into a Disney princess, especially a character like Snow White, who is historically depicted as having “a skin as white as snow.”
Credits: Rachel Zegler in Snow White / Walt Disney Studios
She shared how watching the 1997 Cinderella movie with Brandy and Whitney Houston in the lead made her believe that this version was the definitive one. However, she is also not disregarding the fact that the blond-haired blue-eyed Cinderella from the 1950s cartoon and Hilary Duff’s A Cinderella Story are also “Cinderella”.
Brandy shared a heartfelt yet powerful advice for Zegler for her upcoming performance in Snow White (via Variety):
You’re not taking on this role to fit the mold of the critics. You’re doing this for every little Colombian girl who has yet to see themselves in a role like a Disney princess. You’re doing this for the little girl that you once were, who grew up without that representation of her Colombian culture.
The Cinderella actress believed Zegler would hit it out of the park and show the world, especially young girls, that it is possible for someone who looks like her to become a Disney princess.
These are uplifting words from someone who shared the same experience and is a woman of color as well. Especially now with the popularity of social media, online trolls and haters are very confident in throwing insensitive criticisms as they are protected by the cloak of anonymity.
Brandy’s Cinderella Was Criticized Before Its Release
Credits: Brandy in Cinderella / Disney-ABC
Like Zegler, Brandy was also the unfortunate victim of racist comments and harsh criticism following her stint as Cinderella in 1997. Just before the premiere of the film, publications were already spitting reviews about how the lead star could not act. Similarly, Whitney Houston’s role as Fairy Godmother was also not favored.
It is obvious that Brandy’s message for Zegler stems from her own struggles trying to prove that she’s worthy to play Cinderella.
Snow White is slated for a March 21, 2025 release.
