Internet rumors are currently running rampant that Rachel Zegler — the some-would-say-unfairly maligned star of Disney’s recent Snow White remake — is suing Disney over the film.
©Disney
The film (which was released to underwhelming box office results and mixed-at-best reviews on March 21st) and its star have been lightning rods for controversy since well before production on the Mark Webb-directed film actually began.
The controversy regarding Zegler and the film began with the announcement of the West Side Story alum’s casting. Some argued that the Latina actress should not be playing the titular heroine, as the character is described as having “skin as white as snow.” The “controversy” thrust Zegler into the midst of the ongoing “culture wars.”
©Disney
On the heels of the controversy over her casting, Zegler’s outspoken comments about the film and its story also attracted some negative attention. Shortly after her casting was announced, Zegler spoke about some of the changes coming to the live-action adaption, saying, ”There’s a big focus [in the original] on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. Weird! So we didn’t do that this time.” The actress also said that the original film was “extremely dated when it comes to the ideas of women being in roles of power” and that “People are making these jokes about ours being the PC Snow White, where it’s like, yeah, it is – because it needed that.”
Snow White and Dopey
Despite that fact that, as film critic Anna Smith put it, “Zegler pointed out that times and attitudes have changed, and that the new Snow White has been adapted for the current age. This is the case with many remakes and reboots, many of which do not make the headlines with comments about ‘woke’ culture”. The comments rankled some, who claimed that Zegler was “disrespecting Disney tradition” and “trashing” the original film.
Beyond the film, the actress was also maligned for expressing her political opinions as well. In the summer of 2024, she faced backlash from some corners for adding “and always remember, free Palestine” to a tweet thanking fans for viewing the film’s trailer. Later on in the year, she said that she hoped that “Trump voters and Trump himself never know peace” after the 2024 United States Presidential election.
Rachel Zegler as Maria ©Disney
Despite her apologizing for the latter post, many feel that Zegler’s comments negatively affected the film. City AM film editor Victoria Luxford said Zegler’s criticism of the original film “was never going to work out well” since Disney’s remakes “are marketed on nostalgia, on making you feel like you did when you saw the original, so to speak of it negatively seemed puzzling.”
Jonah Platt, the son of Snow White producer Marc Platt, was even more blunt in a since deleted social media post, saying that Zegler had “dragged her personal politics” into the film’s promotional campaign and that “her actions clearly hurt the film’s box office.”
©Disney
Others have come to Zegler’s defense, however, with many pointing out that the backlash she’s received as a female actress of color is arguably much greater than that faced by white men who’ve made similar comments.
As film critic Kelechi Ehenulo put it, “What irks me is how easy actors become targets for backlash on social media and yet the culture of silence from studios, news outlets and social media platforms says it all. That lack of public protection…means the toxicity continues to fester and rise. It’s the Wild West out there and I can’t see it getting better when this has been normalized to such an extent.”
Rachel Zegler with fans ©IMDB
The aforementioned Luxford, despite saying Zegler’s comments about the film were puzzling, also said, that that some of the criticism of Zegler came from “a place of prejudice” as “she’s a young Latina woman with political opinions that don’t align with certain groups, who are quick to voice their anger.”
So, now that the story is set, is Rachel Zegler suing Disney?
The short answer is no. There is no evidence or apparent merit to the idea that Zegler is suing the company, and the “reports” are seemingly coming from a couple of new videos on YouTube that are based on rumors.
©Disney
The longer story is that Rachel Zegler and the live-action Snow White film have become embroiled in the ongoing culture wars and will likely stay so for the foreseeable future. Stay tuned to DFB for further coverage.
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Again, I don’t understand WHY she was selected to be Snow White. She is NO representative of the character in any way!
Politics mean nothing if people like the product. The movie was reportedly (and repeatedly reported to be) just not good. We have no interest in it here. Now, Mirror Mirror…that was an AWESOME Snow White movie! DD and I still watch it at least twice a year, despite Armie Hammer’s more recent bad publicity.
I don’t need a PC Snow White! To say the Prince was stalking her is a ridiculous interpretation. My, God, enough. Do your acting, get your paycheck and go home.
It seems to me that this assumed actress is typical of the Hollywood elite. There is nothing wrong with nostalgia! The original was a great movie and the followup TV series called Once Upon A Time was a little out there but followed the Snow White story. This little brat needs to know that it’s the older nostalgic population that pays for the tickets so our children can go see these movies. I thought Disney learned their lesson with the Buzz Lightyear debacle, but no, they did not. This young lady needs to go online a see who’s careers were forever changed because of one horrible movie.
no one says unfairly anything. she diserves everything comong. politics and feministity is not to be present in your acting and thats ALL that was present. same reason brie larson will never be in another marvel works.