In the lead-up to Disney’s live-action remake of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, set to release in March 2025, actress Rachel Zegler has found herself at the center of a heated online debate. Social media platforms, particularly TikTok and X, have been abuzz with criticism, much of it rooted in resurfaced interview clips from 2022 and 2023 where Zegler discussed her perspective on the 1937 animated classic. Critics have accused her of expressing disdain for the original film, with some claiming she “hates” Snow White. However, a closer examination of her statements reveals a more nuanced story—one of childhood fear, modern reinterpretation, and comments taken out of context.
The Spark of Controversy
The controversy began in earnest in August 2023, when interview clips from September 2022, filmed at Disney’s D23 Expo, resurfaced online. In these interviews, Zegler, who stars as Snow White in the remake, spoke about updating the character for a contemporary audience. In a conversation with Variety, she stated, “It’s no longer 1937… She’s not going to be saved by the prince, and she’s not going to be dreaming about true love. She’s dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be.” She also described the original film’s prince as someone who “literally stalks” Snow White, calling the dynamic “weird” in an Extra TV interview.
These remarks, particularly the characterization of the prince’s actions, struck a nerve with fans of the original Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, a film widely regarded as a cornerstone of animation history. The 1937 classic, Disney’s first feature-length animated film, holds a special place in the hearts of many, listed among the American Film Institute’s 100 greatest American films and celebrated for its groundbreaking animation. For some, Zegler’s comments appeared to dismiss the film’s legacy, prompting accusations that she was ungrateful or disrespectful toward a beloved childhood staple.
Adding fuel to the fire, Zegler revealed in a December 2022 Entertainment Weekly interview that she had been “scared of the original version” as a child, particularly citing the woodland scene where Snow White flees through a menacing forest. She admitted to watching the film only once before revisiting it to prepare for her role, saying, “I think I watched it once and never picked it up again. I’m being so serious.” Critics seized on this admission, framing it as evidence that Zegler “hated” the original Snow White and questioning why she would take on the role if she wasn’t a fan of the source material.
A Childhood Fear, Not Hatred
Zegler’s comments about her childhood fear of Snow White have been widely misinterpreted. The woodland scene, where Snow White is chased through a dark, twisted forest with ominous imagery, is indeed one of the film’s more frightening moments, especially for young viewers. This isn’t an uncommon reaction; as noted in a Reddit discussion, the Disneyland attraction Snow White’s Scary Adventures leaned into the film’s darker elements, and many fans recall being unnerved by the scene as children. Zegler’s admission that she found the film scary and avoided rewatching it until preparing for her role reflects a personal experience, not a blanket condemnation of the movie’s quality or cultural significance.
In fact, Zegler has repeatedly expressed her admiration for Disney and the opportunity to play Snow White. In a 2025 Good Morning America interview, she described the role as “the honor of a lifetime” and emphasized her pride as a “huge Disney fan” in bringing the character to a new generation. Her comments suggest enthusiasm for the project, not disdain. However, the selective editing and amplification of her earlier remarks on social media have painted a distorted picture, with TikTok videos garnering millions of views claiming she “hates” Snow White. One such video, viewed over 7 million times, accused Zegler of being “condescending” and misunderstanding the original film’s value.
Context and Misrepresentation
A key issue in the controversy is the lack of context surrounding Zegler’s statements. In her 2022 interviews, she was responding to questions about how the live-action remake would differ from the original, particularly in its approach to Snow White’s character arc. The remake, co-written by Greta Gerwig, shifts the focus from romance to leadership, with Snow White aspiring to be a “fearless, fair, brave, and true” leader, as inspired by her late father. Zegler’s remarks about the prince and the “dated” portrayal of women in the 1937 film were meant to highlight these updates, not to disparage the original outright.
For example, her comment about the prince “stalking” Snow White refers to scenes where he observes her from a distance before their eventual meeting—a dynamic that, through a modern lens, could be seen as problematic. Similarly, her observation that the original film is “extremely dated when it comes to the ideas of women being in roles of power” reflects a broader cultural shift in how female characters are portrayed. As film critic Anna Smith noted, Zegler was simply pointing out that “times and attitudes have changed,” a common approach in remakes that often goes unremarked upon.
Yet, these comments were often presented in isolation, stripped of their surrounding context. Social media users and conservative media outlets, such as The Daily Mail, branded her remarks a “woke tirade” or accused her of “trashing” the original Snow White. This framing ignores Zegler’s clarification in a 2024 Variety interview, where she expressed sadness that her words were misunderstood. She emphasized that the remake retains an “integral” love story and that she never intended to suggest women must choose between romance and ambition. “I believe that women can do anything. But I also believe that they can do everything,” she said.
The Role of Social Media and Culture Wars
The backlash against Zegler extends beyond her comments about Snow White. Since her casting was announced in 2021, she has faced racist harassment for playing a character traditionally depicted with “skin as white as snow.” Critics argued that Zegler, who is of Colombian and Polish descent, was not “white enough” for the role, despite her talent and the fact that the remake reinterprets the origin of Snow White’s name as tied to a blizzard rather than her complexion. This harassment escalated to alarming levels, with Zegler revealing in a 2023 Cosmopolitan interview that some detractors showed up outside her apartment, shouting profanities.
Zegler’s outspoken political views have also drawn ire, particularly her pro-Palestine posts and criticism of Donald Trump following the 2024 U.S. presidential election. A 2024 X post stating “and always remember, free Palestine” sparked significant backlash, with some blaming her political activism for the film’s poor box office performance. This led to tensions with Disney, with producer Marc Platt reportedly urging her to remove the post, and additional security being provided for co-star Gal Gadot, who is Israeli, due to death threats.
Film critic Kelechi Ehenulo has described Zegler as a victim of “culture wars,” noting that actors from underrepresented backgrounds often face disproportionate scrutiny. The double standards are evident when compared to male actors like Harrison Ford and Robert Pattinson, whose criticisms of Star Wars and Twilight are often treated as humorous rather than scandalous. Zegler herself addressed this in a 2024 Variety interview, lamenting the tendency to “tear down” women in the public eye.
Moving Forward
Despite the controversy, Zegler has garnered significant support. Fans and critics, including actress Melissa Barrera and journalist Mark Harris, have praised her integrity and talent, with some calling Disney’s apparent blame-shifting “graceless.” Her performance in Snow White has been lauded as a highlight, with Jacobin describing her as “the only bright spot” in an otherwise flawed film.
As the dust settles, it’s clear that Zegler’s comments were less about hating Snow White and more about navigating the challenge of modernizing a nearly century-old story. Her childhood fear of the woodland scene, far from being a slight against the film, reflects its emotional power. By taking her remarks out of context, critics have fueled a narrative that overshadows her contributions to the remake and the broader conversation about representation and storytelling in Hollywood. As Zegler continues her career, with roles in Romeo + Juliet on Broadway and beyond, her resilience in the face of adversity remains a testament to her strength as both an artist and an individual.
