The entertainment industry is no stranger to public feuds, but a recent clash between Jack Black and Rachel Zegler has taken a particularly harsh turn. On May 3, 2025, during a promotional event for Kung Fu Panda 5, Black, the 55-year-old comedic actor and voice of Po, publicly roasted Zegler, the 23-year-old actress who has faced intense scrutiny following the flop of Disney’s live-action Snow White. Black’s comments, which mocked Zegler’s career trajectory and her controversial statements, have reportedly left her seeking therapy to cope with the emotional fallout. This article explores Black’s roast, Zegler’s struggles, the public reaction, and the broader implications for mental health in Hollywood.
The Roast Heard Around the World
Jack Black has long been known for his irreverent humor, often poking fun at himself and others in a lighthearted way. However, at a Los Angeles press junket for Kung Fu Panda 5 on May 3, 2025, his remarks took a biting tone. When asked about the challenges of maintaining relevance in Hollywood, Black quipped, “You’ve got to keep the audience on your side. I mean, look at Rachel Zegler—she went from West Side Story to Snow White, and now she’s basically the poster child for ‘how to tank a fairy tale.’ Maybe she should’ve stuck to singing about princes instead of dissing them.” The audience laughed, but the comment quickly spread across social media, amassing over 15 million views on X within 48 hours.
Black didn’t stop there. He added, “I get it, she’s young, but you can’t just bite the hand that feeds you and expect Disney to keep handing you glass slippers. Now she’s doing Evita in London, and I hear the theater’s so empty you can hear the crickets singing ‘Don’t Cry for Me.’ Tough break, kid.” The roast referenced Zegler’s controversial comments during the Snow White press tour, where she called the 1937 original outdated and focused on her character’s empowerment over romance, as well as her struggling West End production of Evita, which has failed to sell tickets at the London Palladium.
Zegler’s Struggles and Reported Therapy
Rachel Zegler’s career has been a whirlwind since her breakout role in West Side Story (2021), where she earned a Golden Globe for her portrayal of María. However, her trajectory has been marred by controversy. The live-action Snow White, released on March 21, 2025, grossed just $143 million worldwide against a $270 million budget, resulting in a $250 million loss for Disney. Zegler faced backlash for her casting as a Latina Snow White, her comments dismissing the original film, and the creative decision to replace the seven dwarfs with CGI “magical creatures.” The film’s poor reception, coupled with online harassment, has taken a toll on her mental health.
Following Black’s roast, sources close to Zegler claim she has sought therapy to deal with the mounting pressure. An insider told The Sun on May 6, 2025, “Rachel’s been through a lot this year—Snow White bombing, the online hate, and now Jack Black’s comments have really hit her hard. She’s in therapy to process it all. She feels like she’s being made a scapegoat for everything that went wrong with the film.” Zegler’s recent Instagram activity supports this narrative; on April 21, 2025, she posted about her sick dog, Lenny, seeking help from fans, a move that suggested she was already under significant stress.
Zegler’s next project, Evita, has also struggled. Set to open on June 14, 2025, the production has failed to draw crowds, with reports of vast empty sections in the 2,286-seat venue. Her Broadway run in Romeo and Juliet (2024) was a success, but the cumulative effect of her recent failures and public criticism appears to have pushed her to a breaking point.
Public Reaction and Social Media Backlash
The reaction to Black’s roast has been sharply divided. On X, some users celebrated his bluntness, viewing it as a refreshing take on Zegler’s perceived arrogance. A viral post stated, “Jack Black just said what everyone’s thinking—Rachel Zegler’s career is a mess, and she brought it on herself.” Others, however, condemned Black for targeting a young actress already struggling with public scrutiny. One user wrote, “Jack Black roasting Rachel Zegler when she’s clearly down is disgusting. She’s 23, dealing with racist trolls, and now this? He should be ashamed.”
Zegler’s supporters have rallied around her, pointing to the systemic issues she faces as a Latina actress in Hollywood. Film critic Kelechi Ehenulo, quoted in a BBC article on March 30, 2025, called Zegler a “victim of culture wars,” noting that actors from underrepresented backgrounds often become targets for backlash. The racist abuse Zegler endured during the Snow White rollout—similar to that faced by Halle Bailey for The Little Mermaid—has been well-documented, with Zegler revealing that trolls showed up at her home to harass her.
Black’s comments also drew criticism for their insensitivity toward mental health. The report of Zegler seeking therapy has sparked a broader conversation about the toll of public criticism on young stars. On X, a user posted, “Rachel Zegler in therapy after Jack Black’s roast is a reminder that words have consequences. Hollywood needs to do better.” Others noted the irony of Black, a veteran actor known for his affable persona, contributing to Zegler’s distress, with one user writing, “Jack Black of all people should know how brutal this industry can be. Why add to her pain?”
The Broader Context: Hollywood’s Treatment of Young Stars
Zegler’s situation is not unique. The entertainment industry has a long history of building up young stars only to tear them down at the first sign of vulnerability. Zegler’s experience mirrors that of Melissa Barrera, who faced backlash and was fired from the Scream franchise for her political comments, as noted in a World of Reel article on April 30, 2025. Both actresses, women of color, have been disproportionately criticized for speaking their minds, highlighting a double standard in how Hollywood handles outspoken talent.
The Snow White flop cannot be attributed solely to Zegler. The film’s failure stems from broader issues: a $270 million budget that ballooned due to extensive CGI, a market oversaturated with live-action remakes, and creative decisions—like replacing the dwarfs—that alienated audiences. Yet, Zegler has been made the scapegoat, a phenomenon Vanity Fair described on March 29, 2025, as “perversely flattering” to her influence. Disney’s reported efforts to control her social media posts, including hiring a “social media guru” after her pro-Palestine comments, suggest the studio viewed her as a liability rather than addressing its own missteps.
Black’s roast, while harsh, reflects a broader cultural tendency to pile on when someone is down. His comments about Zegler’s Evita production, while exaggerated, tap into a real narrative of her declining momentum. However, they also ignore the structural challenges she faces—racial bias, the pressure to represent her community, and the industry’s unforgiving nature toward young women who don’t conform to expectations.
Mental Health in the Spotlight
Zegler’s reported turn to therapy underscores a growing awareness of mental health struggles in Hollywood. The pressure to maintain a perfect public image, coupled with the relentless scrutiny of social media, has led to a crisis among young stars. Zegler’s case is particularly poignant given her age and the intensity of the backlash she’s faced. Her comments about Snow White—calling the original outdated—were made when she was 21, a time when most young adults are still navigating their identities and beliefs. Yet, she has been held to an impossibly high standard, with little room for growth or mistakes.
The entertainment industry has made strides in addressing mental health, with stars like Selena Gomez and Billie Eilish openly discussing their struggles. However, the culture of public roasting—whether by comedians like Black or anonymous trolls—continues to exacerbate the problem. Zegler’s therapy journey, while a private matter, has become a public talking point, highlighting the need for more empathy in how we discuss celebrities’ mental health.
What’s Next for Zegler and Black?
For Zegler, the road ahead is uncertain but not without hope. She has a new project lined up: She Gets It From Me, a comedy-drama with Marisa Tomei, set to begin filming later in 2025. The indie film, announced by Variety on April 30, 2025, could offer a fresh start, allowing her to step away from the blockbuster spotlight and rebuild her confidence. Therapy may provide her with the tools to navigate the industry’s challenges, and her resilience—evident in her successful Broadway run—suggests she has the talent to rebound.
Jack Black, meanwhile, has yet to address the backlash as of May 7, 2025. His comments, while in line with his comedic persona, have drawn criticism for their timing and target. Black’s career, bolstered by decades of goodwill from films like School of Rock and Jumanji, is unlikely to suffer long-term damage, but the incident may prompt him to reflect on the impact of his words. A public apology or gesture of support toward Zegler could help mitigate the damage, though his silence so far suggests he may be waiting for the storm to pass.
Conclusion
Jack Black’s public roast of Rachel Zegler on May 3, 2025, has had a profound impact, reportedly driving the young actress to seek therapy amid an already tumultuous year. The Snow White flop, her struggling Evita production, and the relentless online harassment have left Zegler vulnerable, making Black’s comments a particularly harsh blow. While some view his roast as a humorous truth, others see it as a cruel attack on a young star already battling systemic biases and mental health challenges.
As of 04:15 PM on May 7, 2025, the incident has sparked a broader conversation about accountability, empathy, and the toll of fame on young stars, particularly women of color. Zegler’s journey in therapy reflects a growing need for mental health support in Hollywood, while Black’s roast serves as a reminder of the power of words in an industry that thrives on spectacle. Whether Zegler can reclaim her narrative and Black can make amends remains to be seen, but this moment underscores the human cost of Hollywood’s relentless spotlight.
