It seems that the upcoming Snow White remake is facing yet another wave of controversy, this time involving its star, Rachel Zegler. The 23-year-old actress, who has already sparked her fair share of headlines with her outspoken views, has now waded into the Israel-Palestine conflict, creating a firestorm on social media while promoting the long-awaited Disney film.
Zegler, who plays the titular princess in the remake, took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to post the film’s trailer. However, two days later, she followed up with a politically charged comment: “And always remember, free Palestine.”
This statement has not gone unnoticed, especially given that the film also stars Israeli actress Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen. While there’s no evidence of tension between the two actresses, some Israeli publications have suggested that Zegler’s comment could be seen as an insult to Gadot.
Disney has already been grappling with a series of controversies that have impacted its brand, and this latest incident is unlikely to help. Zegler had previously stirred up backlash by criticizing the original 1937 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, calling it “weird” and suggesting that the Prince character was a “stalker.” She also hinted that the remake would focus on making sure any fairytale smooching was consensual, which, while well-intentioned, did not sit well with fans of the classic film.
The new adaptation, directed by Marc Webb and boasting a hefty $330 million budget, was initially set for release in March 2024. However, it has since been delayed to March 2025, reportedly due to “crisis talks” among Disney executives following the negative response to Zegler’s comments and the film’s direction. The movie’s portrayal of the Seven Dwarfs has also been a point of contention. The decision to replace a diverse cast of dwarfs with CGI characters closer in appearance to those from the original film was seen by some as an attempt to mitigate further backlash.
Branding and PR experts have expressed concern over Zegler’s approach to promoting the film. Carla Speight, a branding expert, warned that Disney has fallen into the trap of pushing strong and loaded messages in the name of empowerment, potentially alienating audiences. She also pointed out that Disney actors were once carefully media-trained to avoid such pitfalls, but this seems to have changed with the Snow White remake.
PR expert Nick Ede echoed these sentiments, criticizing Zegler for not embracing her role as one of the most famous fairytale characters, but instead actively choosing to challenge and, in some cases, dismantle the narrative that made the story beloved in the first place.
Zegler’s comments have added fuel to the fire surrounding the film’s production. She has repeatedly defended the remake’s more progressive stance, framing it as a necessary update to the story. “People are making these jokes about ours being the PC Snow White… yeah, it is—because it needed that,” she said in one interview. This approach has sparked debates among fans and critics alike, with some appreciating the modern twist and others feeling that the film is straying too far from its roots.
Adding to the controversy is the casting of Zegler herself. Some critics questioned the decision to cast her as Snow White, a character traditionally described as having “skin as white as snow.” Zegler addressed this criticism head-on, stating in a now-deleted tweet that she would not be bleaching her skin for the role, further intensifying the discussion around the film.
