Rachel Zegler Complains Again About Snow White Backlash

Actress Rachel Zegler is once again speaking out about the backlash surrounding Disney’s live action adaptation of Snow White, a film that struggled to win over audiences despite massive expectations.

In a recent interview, the 24-year-old star revisited the criticism she faced after being cast as the iconic Disney princess and suggested the pushback stemmed from confusion over her identity.

Zegler claimed that critics seemed unsure how to categorize her heritage.

“I was told I wasn’t enough of one thing for West Side Story and too much of another for Snow White,” she said, referencing earlier reactions to her casting in both projects.

The actress added that she grew up embracing her Colombian background and rejected pressure to alter her identity for public approval.

“I refuse to assimilate for anybody else’s comfort,” she said.

But critics argue the backlash surrounding the film had less to do with ethnicity and more to do with Zegler’s own comments leading up to the movie’s release.

Several statements made by the actress sparked controversy online.

Among the remarks that fueled criticism:

• Zegler mocked the original Snow White story, calling Prince Charming a “stalker.”

• She said the remake would abandon the traditional fairy tale love story.

• She posted political messages online, including a statement saying she hoped supporters of Donald Trump would “never know peace.”

The actress also shared a social media message expressing support for the phrase “Free Palestine,” which generated additional debate online.

For many viewers, those comments became the center of the controversy.

Some critics argued that publicly criticizing the original source material while promoting the film alienated longtime Disney fans.

Zegler’s description of the remake emphasized a major shift from the traditional story.

Instead of focusing on romance, the new version portrayed Snow White as a character pursuing leadership and independence rather than searching for true love.

“She’s not going to be saved by the prince,” Zegler explained while discussing the film before its release.

Despite heavy promotion, the movie ultimately struggled commercially.

The film earned just over $206 million worldwide, failing to recoup its reported production and marketing costs. Large studio productions often require significantly higher global revenue to become profitable.

Audience reception was also mixed.

The movie holds a 39% critics score and roughly 69% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, reflecting a divided response from reviewers and moviegoers.

Adding to the film’s troubles, the project received six nominations at the Golden Raspberry Awards, an annual event that highlights some of the year’s most criticized films and performances.

Even so, Zegler said the controversy surrounding the movie has served as a learning experience.

She described the situation as a lesson about how public statements can be interpreted differently than intended.

“You live and you learn,” she said, adding that speaking publicly on social media sometimes brings consequences that are difficult to predict.

The actress acknowledged that there may be times when choosing not to post online can be the wiser decision.

“There are a lot of opportunities to make more meaningful change than a tweet,” she said.

Despite the mixed reception to Snow White, Zegler remains one of Hollywood’s rising young stars after her breakout role in Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of West Side Story.

Still, the debate surrounding Disney’s reimagining of a classic fairy tale continues to spark discussion about how modern studios handle beloved stories.

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