Rachel Zegler, once hailed as Hollywood’s brightest rising star, is now at the center of a firestorm following the catastrophic failure of Disney’s live-action Snow White. The 23-year-old actress, who shot to fame as Maria in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, stunned fans in a raw September 2025 interview on the Popcorn and Prejudice podcast, where she unleashed her frustration: “My mistake was agreeing to work with Disney!” Zegler revealed she’s been left with a mountain of personal debt tied to the $350 million project, which tanked at the box office, earning a mere $87 million globally in its opening weekend. Branded by some as “Hollywood’s most hated actress,” Zegler’s candid remarks about her fallout with Disney, her controversial comments during the film’s promotion, and the toxic backlash that followed have ignited a fierce debate. Was she set up to fail, or did her own actions sink the fairy tale? Here’s why Snow White’s collapse has become the scandal of the year—and what it means for Zegler’s future.
A Fairy Tale Turned Nightmare
When Disney announced Zegler as Snow White in June 2021, the casting was met with both applause and outrage. The New Jersey native, of Colombian and Polish descent, was celebrated for bringing diversity to the iconic princess, whose “skin as white as snow” had long been depicted as a fair-skinned European. Zegler, a Golden Globe winner with a crystalline voice showcased in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, seemed poised to redefine the role for a new generation. Directed by Marc Webb and co-starring Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, the $270 million production (plus $80 million in marketing) promised a modern take on the 1937 classic, with new songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and a script by Erin Cressida Wilson emphasizing Snow White’s leadership over romance.
But trouble brewed early. Zegler’s 2022 comments at Disney’s D23 expo, where she called the original film’s love story “weird” and the Prince a “stalker,” sparked fury among fans who cherished the animated classic. “She’s not dreaming about true love—she’s dreaming about becoming a fearless leader,” Zegler told Variety, framing the remake as a feminist reimagining. The backlash was swift, with X users labeling her “smug” and “narcissistic.” One viral TikTok from @nuttybutter96, with 1.2 million views, slammed her for “disrespecting” Disney’s legacy, while Reddit’s r/disneyprincess erupted with debates over her casting, with some arguing her Latina heritage didn’t fit the “white as snow” archetype. Others defended her, pointing out that Snow White, or Blanca Nieves, is a beloved figure in Latin American culture.
The controversies didn’t stop there. Disney’s decision to replace the seven dwarfs with CGI “magical creatures” after criticism from actors like Peter Dinklage drew ire for sidelining performers with dwarfism. A 2023 fire on the London set and delays from the writers’ strike further plagued production. By the time Zegler posted “free Palestine” in an X thread promoting the Snow White trailer in August 2024, the film was a lightning rod. The post, which garnered 8.8 million views, prompted producer Marc Platt to fly to New York to urge her to remove it, citing tensions with co-star Gadot, an Israeli actress and former IDF soldier. Zegler refused, and Disney hired a “social media guru” to monitor her posts, signaling a fractured relationship. Her November 2024 Instagram outburst against Trump’s reelection—“May Trump supporters and Trump himself never know peace”—further alienated conservative audiences, who vowed to boycott the film.
A Box Office Bloodbath
When Snow White premiered on March 21, 2025, at a press-shy event at the El Capitan Theatre, the damage was done. The film opened to a dismal $43 million domestically and $87 million worldwide, a far cry from its $350 million price tag. Critics panned its “eye-searing CGI” and “clashing color palette,” with a 42% Rotten Tomatoes score reflecting the public’s apathy. IMDb’s 1.6/10 rating, flagged for “unusual voting activity,” pointed to a review-bombing campaign. Fans on X called it “a woke disaster,” blaming Zegler’s comments and the film’s departure from the original’s charm. “Disney tried to fix what wasn’t broken,” one Reddit user posted, while another lamented, “Zegler’s attitude killed the nostalgia.”
Zegler’s podcast revelation added fuel to the fire. She claimed Disney’s contract left her responsible for promotional expenses, including travel and wardrobe, plunging her into debt when the film flopped. “I trusted them to protect me, but they hung me out to dry,” she said, her voice cracking. “I poured my heart into Snow White, and now I’m paying for their mistakes—literally.” Industry insiders dispute this, arguing that standard contracts don’t burden actors with such costs, but Zegler’s team insists Disney’s “punitive measures” targeted her after her political posts. The claim has sparked heated debate, with fans on X rallying under #JusticeForRachel, while others mock her as “entitled.” “She trashed the film and expected a hit?” one user tweeted. “That’s on her.”
The Scapegoat or the Saboteur?
Disney’s response has been ruthless. A March 2025 Variety report, citing anonymous sources, painted Zegler as “erratic” and “irresponsible,” alleging her political activism—particularly the “free Palestine” post—tanked the film’s prospects. The article claimed her comments led to death threats against Gadot, forcing Disney to beef up security. Producer Marc Platt’s son, Jonah, escalated the feud in a now-deleted Instagram post, calling Zegler “immature” and “narcissistic” for “dragging her politics” into the campaign. “She hurt the film’s box office,” he wrote, echoing sentiments from Disney execs who saw her as a liability. The studio’s decision to distance Zegler from Gadot at the premiere—seating them rows apart and skipping red-carpet interviews—underscored the tension.
Yet, many argue Zegler’s been unfairly scapegoated. Her performance, despite the film’s flaws, earned praise for its “sparkling charisma” and vocal strength, with Vanity Fair calling her “the only bright spot in a cynical cash grab.” Journalist Mark Harris and 50 others signed an open letter condemning Variety’s “hit job,” arguing Disney used Zegler to deflect from their own missteps, like ignoring fan nostalgia and over-relying on CGI. “The film was doomed from the start,” one Reddit user posted on r/moviecritic. “Blaming Rachel for a bad script and poor marketing is lazy.” Supporters like Melissa Barrera, fired from Scream 7 for similar political posts, hailed Zegler’s integrity, reposting on Instagram: “She’s cool as hell for standing her ground.”
The backlash against Zegler has taken a darker turn. Online trolls have targeted her appearance, mocking her body hair and pimple patches in paparazzi photos, while others label her a “fake feminist” for dismissing the original Snow White’s romantic arc. Her comments about the Prince—“He could be cut entirely, it’s Hollywood, baby!”—drew ire for their flippancy, with one X user calling her “a walking PR disaster.” The hate has been relentless, with death threats prompting Zegler to tag the FBI in a cheeky August 2024 X post: “Someone said I should die? Fun fact, I’ll be dying eight times a week on Broadway!” Her pivot to the West End’s Evita as Eva Perón signals a strategic retreat from Hollywood’s spotlight.
A Polarizing Icon in the Making
Zegler’s journey from Hollywood darling to pariah is a tale of talent, conviction, and a studio’s miscalculations. Her defenders see her as a victim of a toxic culture war, punished for her Latina heritage and unapologetic politics. “Rachel’s crime is being a young woman with opinions,” one X user tweeted, while another argued, “Disney cast her knowing her activism, then blamed her when it didn’t fit their brand.” Critics, however, say her lack of media training and “smug” demeanor alienated fans who wanted a Snow White true to the 1937 classic. “She didn’t respect the legacy,” one TikToker posted, echoing David Hand Jr., son of the original director, who claimed Zegler’s comments dishonored Walt Disney’s vision.
The financial fallout is undeniable. Disney’s $115 million loss has led to Tangled’s live-action remake being shelved, per The Hollywood Reporter, signaling a pause on ambitious remakes. Zegler’s career, however, shows resilience. Her Evita role and upcoming dramedy She Gets It From Me suggest she’s leaning into her musical theater roots, where her vocal talent and stage presence first shone. “I’m done with fairy tales for now,” she told Popcorn and Prejudice, hinting at a shift to projects that align with her values. Fans on Reddit’s r/disneyprincess praise her courage, with one user noting, “She’s 23 and standing up to a corporation. That’s braver than most.”
What’s Next for Zegler and Disney?
The Snow White debacle has exposed the fault lines in Hollywood’s remake machine. Disney’s push for diversity clashed with fan expectations, and Zegler became the lightning rod. Her claim of debt—whether contractual or exaggerated—has sparked sympathy from some, with #RachelWasRobbed trending on X alongside calls for transparency from Disney. Others, like Megyn Kelly, who called Zegler a “pig” for her Trump comments, argue she’s reaping what she sowed. “She tanked a $350 million movie,” one X user posted. “What did she expect?”
As Zegler steps onto the West End stage, her defiance remains. “I won’t be silenced,” she said on the podcast, addressing the hate. “I’m here to tell stories, not play nice for a paycheck.” Whether she’s Hollywood’s scapegoat or its boldest new voice, Zegler’s Snow White saga is a cautionary tale about fame, politics, and the cost of speaking out. For now, the spotlight’s on her next move—will she rise from the ashes or stay in Disney’s shadow? One thing’s certain: this princess isn’t waiting for a prince to save her.
