Rachel Zegler, the 23-year-old actress at the center of Disney’s controversial live-action Snow White remake, has finally broken her silence following the film’s disastrous reception. In a candid and unapologetic Instagram Live session on Thursday evening, Zegler addressed the barrage of criticism she’s faced since the movie’s release, pushing back against what she called a “smear campaign” and calling for a deeper conversation about Hollywood’s treatment of young women in the industry. Her fiery response has reignited debates about the Snow White flop, the challenges of modernizing classic tales, and the unfair blame often placed on actors for a project’s shortcomings.
A Fairytale Turned Nightmare
Disney’s live-action Snow White, released on March 21, 2025, was anticipated to be a milestone in Zegler’s rising career. Following her breakout role in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story (2021), which earned her a Golden Globe, and a successful turn in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023), Zegler was poised to cement her status as a Disney Princess. However, the film, directed by Marc Webb and co-starring Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, quickly became one of the most divisive releases in Disney’s history.
The remake faced criticism from its inception. Zegler’s casting as Snow White, a character traditionally depicted as “white as snow” in the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, sparked outrage among some conservative circles due to her Colombian descent. Critics accused Disney of “wokeness,” arguing that the casting undermined the original story’s cultural context. Zegler’s comments during the press tour further fueled the fire—she described the 1937 animated classic as “weird” and the prince as a “stalker,” emphasizing that the remake would focus on Snow White’s leadership rather than romance. While intended to highlight the film’s modern feminist approach, her remarks were seen by some as disrespectful to Disney’s legacy.
The controversies didn’t stop there. The decision to replace the seven dwarfs with CGI “magical creatures” drew ire from actors like Peter Dinklage, who criticized the move as a “backwards” portrayal of dwarfism. Tensions between Zegler and Gadot also made headlines, with the two reportedly at odds over their opposing views on the Israel-Palestine conflict—Zegler vocally supported Palestine, while Gadot, a former IDF soldier, has been a staunch advocate for Israel. The film was even banned in Lebanon due to Gadot’s involvement, adding to its global woes. By the time Snow White hit theaters, it was already a lightning rod for criticism.
The box office results were grim. With a production budget of $240–270 million, the film grossed only $168 million worldwide, making it one of Disney’s worst-performing live-action remakes. Critics were equally harsh, with The Independent giving it a one-star review, calling Zegler and Gadot’s performances “the dullest of their lives” and slamming Disney’s “corporate” approach to the dwarfs’ depiction. IMDb issued a rare warning after the film was review-bombed, earning a dismal 1.6 out of 10 rating. The fallout was so severe that Disney reportedly shelved a planned live-action Tangled remake, signaling a potential shift in their remake strategy.
Zegler’s Fiery Clapback
For weeks, Zegler remained silent as the backlash mounted. Rumors swirled of tensions with Disney, with some reports claiming producer Marc Platt had flown to New York to reprimand her for her political posts. Others speculated that her career might be irreparably damaged, despite her securing a new role in She Gets It From Me alongside Marisa Tomei. But on May 15, 2025, Zegler took to Instagram Live to address the controversy head-on, delivering a passionate 20-minute response that has since gone viral, amassing over 12 million views.
“I’m done staying quiet while people tear me apart for things I can’t control,” Zegler began, her voice steady but charged with emotion. “I signed on to Snow White because I believed in the vision—a story about a young woman finding her strength, not just waiting for a prince to save her. I poured my heart into this role, and I’m proud of what I did, even if the film didn’t turn out the way we all hoped.”
Zegler directly addressed the racist backlash to her casting, calling it “hurtful and exhausting.” “I’m Latina, and I’m proud of that,” she said. “Snow White’s name in this version comes from a snowstorm she survived as a child, not her skin color. If that’s still a problem for some people, that’s on them, not me.” She also defended her comments about the original film, clarifying that her intent was never to disrespect Disney’s legacy but to highlight how stories can evolve. “The 1937 film is a classic, but it was made in a different time. We wanted to create something that speaks to today’s audience, especially young girls who deserve to see themselves as leaders.”
The actress didn’t shy away from the broader issues plaguing the film, including the controversial CGI dwarfs and the rumored feud with Gadot. “I’ll take responsibility for my words, but I’m not the only one who made this movie,” she said. “The decisions about the dwarfs, the script, the marketing—those weren’t mine to make. And as for Gal, I respect her as an artist, even if we don’t see eye to eye on everything. We’re professionals, and we did our jobs.” Zegler’s comments echo sentiments from supporters like Lily Allen, who argued that the film’s failure shouldn’t be pinned on Zegler alone, pointing to deeper issues with the production itself.
Perhaps most powerfully, Zegler called out the industry’s tendency to scapegoat young women for systemic failures. “When a movie flops, why is it always the actress who gets blamed?” she asked. “I’m 23 years old, and I’ve been carrying the weight of a $270 million project on my shoulders. That’s not fair. If we’re going to talk about what went wrong, let’s talk about the bigger picture—Hollywood’s obsession with remakes, the lack of support for diverse voices, the way we’re pitted against each other instead of lifting each other up.”
A Divided Response
Zegler’s response has sparked a polarized reaction online. Supporters have rallied behind her, praising her courage and authenticity. “Rachel Zegler just spoke for every young actress who’s been unfairly blamed for a project’s failure,” one X user wrote. “She’s right—Hollywood needs to do better.” Others have highlighted her talent, noting that despite Snow White’s flop, the film is still her second-highest-grossing project, behind The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes ($349 million worldwide). Her vocal performance in Snow White has also been a rare point of praise, with some calling it a “modern, powerful flair” that elevates the film’s otherwise lackluster elements.
Critics, however, have doubled down. Some accused Zegler of “playing the victim” and failing to take accountability for her role in the film’s poor reception. “She can’t just blame everyone else—her comments alienated fans before the movie even came out,” another X user commented. Others pointed to her political posts, particularly her “Free Palestine” tweet following the Snow White trailer release, as a reason for the boycott campaigns that hurt the film’s performance. The tension with Gadot, who faced death threats over her pro-Israel stance, remains a sore point, with some fans arguing that Zegler’s outspokenness contributed to the film’s divisive reception.
A Broader Conversation
Zegler’s response has opened up a larger dialogue about the challenges facing live-action remakes and the treatment of young actresses in Hollywood. The Snow White flop has been a wake-up call for Disney, which is now reevaluating its approach to remakes after shelving Tangled. Some experts argue that the film’s failure reflects broader issues with Disney’s strategy—namely, an overreliance on nostalgia without enough innovation. “Disney keeps trying to modernize these classics, but they’re stuck between pleasing purists and appealing to new audiences,” said film analyst Maria Torres. “Snow White tried to do both and ended up satisfying neither.”
For Zegler, the fallout has been a harsh lesson in navigating fame, but she remains defiant. “I’m not going anywhere,” she said during her Live session. “I’ve got more stories to tell, and I’m going to keep speaking my truth, whether people like it or not.” Her next project, She Gets It From Me, a comedy-drama with Marisa Tomei, offers a fresh start. The film, based on a true story, follows Zegler’s character as she searches for her birth mother, and early buzz suggests it could showcase her versatility in a less controversial setting.
Moving Forward
As the dust settles on the Snow White disaster, Zegler’s fiery response has reminded the industry—and her fans—that she’s more than the controversies that have defined the past few months. Her willingness to confront the criticism head-on, while calling for systemic change, has earned her respect from many who see her as a voice for a new generation of actors. Whether she can fully rebound from the Snow White fallout remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Rachel Zegler is not backing down.
For now, the actress is focusing on her upcoming projects and the lessons she’s learned. “I’ve grown so much through this experience,” she concluded in her Live session. “I’m stronger than I was, and I’m ready for whatever comes next.” As Hollywood grapples with its own fairytale-ending expectations, Zegler’s story is far from over—and her next chapter might just be her most powerful yet.
