Rachel Zegler, the 23-year-old Golden Globe-winning actress who rose to fame with her breakout role in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, has found herself at the center of a storm of controversy and career setbacks in 2025. Reports circulating on platforms like YouTube and X claim that Zegler is in a “complete meltdown” following the commercial failure of Disney’s live-action Snow White and plummeting ticket sales for her upcoming Evita musical at the London Palladium, with some alleging that tickets have dropped to $0 due to lack of demand. While these claims are largely sensationalized and lack concrete evidence, there’s no denying that Zegler’s recent projects have faced significant challenges, amplified by her outspoken social media presence and a polarized public response. Here’s a closer look at Zegler’s tumultuous year, the controversies surrounding her, and her efforts to navigate a challenging moment in her career.
The Snow White Debacle: A Box Office Bomb
Disney’s live-action Snow White, released on March 21, 2025, was anticipated to be a cornerstone of the studio’s remake strategy, following successes like The Little Mermaid and Aladdin. Starring Zegler as the titular princess and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, the film carried a hefty $270–350 million budget, including marketing costs. However, it opened to a disappointing $43 million domestically and $87 million globally, far below expectations for a Disney blockbuster. By its fourth weekend, the film had grossed just $81.9 million domestically and $181.6 million worldwide, with projections estimating a $115 million loss for Disney after all revenue streams, including streaming and merchandise, are accounted for.
The film’s poor performance sparked a wave of criticism, with some pointing fingers at Zegler herself. Social media posts on X amplified the narrative, with one user, @TheFabBookLover, claiming Zegler watched Snow White in an “empty theater” with friends, calling it a sign of “delusion” that “should be studied.” Another post by @cartierfamilyZ labeled the event her “final humiliation.” However, these accounts stem from an Instagram Story by Zegler’s friend Ilda Mason, showing the group watching the film in a near-empty theater, possibly a private screening, and engaging in a lighthearted social media trend. The “empty theater” narrative, while viral, oversimplifies the situation and lacks context about whether the screening was intentionally private or indicative of broader audience disinterest.
Zegler’s comments about the original 1937 Snow White animated film also fueled backlash. In 2023, she described the classic as “weird” and not feminist enough, emphasizing that the remake would focus on Snow White as a strong, independent leader rather than a damsel awaiting true love’s kiss. These remarks alienated some Disney purists, who felt she disrespected the source material. On Reddit’s r/popculturechat, users debated whether Zegler’s comments were unfairly singled out, noting that similar “girl boss” talking points were used for other Disney princess remakes without comparable backlash. Critics argue that Zegler’s Latina casting as Snow White, combined with her vocal political opinions, made her a lightning rod for criticism in a way her predecessors were not.
Political Controversies and Social Media Backlash
Zegler’s social media activity has significantly shaped the narrative around her career struggles. In August 2024, she posted “and always remember, free Palestine” after promoting the Snow White trailer, sparking a firestorm of controversy. The post, which garnered 8.8 million views, reportedly led to a spike in death threats against co-star Gal Gadot, a former Israeli Defense Forces instructor, prompting Disney to hire private security for her. Producer Marc Platt reportedly flew to New York to urge Zegler to remove the post, but she refused, escalating tensions with Disney executives.
Following Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory, Zegler’s Instagram Stories included a profanity-laced rant, stating, “F*** Donald Trump” and wishing that Trump and his supporters “never know peace.” These comments, made in the heat of post-election emotions, drew significant conservative backlash, with figures like Megyn Kelly calling for Disney to fire her. Zegler later apologized, writing, “I let my emotions get the best of me… I am sorry I contributed to the negative discourse.” However, the apology’s polished tone and proper capitalization, contrasting her usual lowercase style, led some to speculate it was written by Disney or a publicist. Disney’s response was to assign Zegler a “social media guru” to monitor her posts, a move starkly different from their firing of Gina Carano from The Mandalorian for less inflammatory social media activity, highlighting perceived inconsistencies in Disney’s handling of talent.
Evita Ticket Sales and the “$0” Claim
The narrative of Zegler’s “complete meltdown” gained traction with reports that her next project, a revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita at the London Palladium opening June 14, 2025, is struggling to sell tickets. YouTube videos and X posts, such as one by @Draculordx, claim that ticket prices have “crashed to $0” due to lack of demand, painting a picture of Zegler in emotional distress. A Daily Mail article noted that “rows of seats remain unsold weeks before opening,” suggesting the production is “set to be a big flop.” However, no credible evidence confirms tickets being sold for $0, and such claims appear to be clickbait exaggerations, likely stemming from promotional discounts or unsold inventory typical for theater productions still in pre-opening stages.
The Evita struggles follow a pattern for Zegler, whose previous films, including The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and Shazam! Fury of the Gods, underperformed compared to expectations. Critics argue that her outspokenness has alienated audiences, with The Daily Wire asserting that her comments “sabotaged” Snow White by insulting potential viewers. Yet, supporters on platforms like X and Bluesky, including journalist Mark Harris and actress Melissa Barrera, argue that Zegler is being unfairly scapegoated for broader industry issues, such as Disney’s reliance on remakes and the polarized cultural climate. Harris called Disney’s apparent blame-shifting a “hit job,” noting that the studio scaled down the Snow White premiere, possibly to distance itself from Zegler’s controversies.
Resilience Amid Criticism
Despite the setbacks, Zegler has shown resilience. She’s continued to engage with fans, as seen in her appearance at a Snow White screening with friends, where she laughed and cheered for herself, demonstrating a defiance of the negative narrative. Her 2024 Met Gala appearance in a Michael Kors gown was praised by Vogue as a “water princess” look, and her 2025 Met Gala invite alongside A-listers like Zendaya signals her enduring presence in Hollywood’s elite circles. On Broadway, she starred in Romeo + Juliet in 2024, earning praise for her vocal and emotional depth, even as Evita faces uncertainty.
Zegler’s supporters argue that her challenges reflect broader issues in Hollywood, including the risk-averse remake culture and the disproportionate scrutiny faced by young, outspoken women of color. On Reddit, users noted that Disney’s live-action remakes, like Dumbo and Cinderella, have had mixed success, suggesting Snow White’s flop is not solely Zegler’s fault. The studio’s failure to screen the film early for influencers or counter negative buzz may have exacerbated its poor performance.
Looking Ahead
The “meltdown” narrative surrounding Zegler appears largely driven by sensationalist YouTube videos and social media posts, with little evidence of her breaking down emotionally. Instead, Zegler seems to be navigating a difficult period with a mix of public apologies and continued professional engagements. Her Evita role, despite ticket sale concerns, offers a chance to showcase her stage talents, potentially redeeming her in the eyes of theatergoers. Meanwhile, her upcoming projects, including a voice role in Netflix’s Spellbound and a part in Y2K, suggest she remains a sought-after talent.
Zegler’s story is a case study in the challenges faced by young stars in the social media age, where every comment can spark a firestorm. While her outspokenness has drawn criticism, it’s also earned her a loyal fanbase who admire her integrity. As one X user put it, “Rachel Zegler RULES and so obviously has a lifetime of incredible roles ahead of her.” Whether she can overcome the current backlash and reclaim her trajectory as Hollywood’s next big star remains to be seen, but her talent and tenacity suggest she’s far from finished.
