The Backdrop: A Disastrous Snow White Remake
Disney’s live-action Snow White, released on March 21, 2025, was intended to be a triumphant reimagining of the 1937 animated classic that launched the studio’s legacy as a pioneer in feature-length animation. Starring Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, the film carried a reported production budget of $270 million, with additional hundreds of millions spent on marketing and publicity. However, the project was plagued by controversy from the start, and its eventual box office performance was nothing short of catastrophic, grossing just $143.1 million globally and projecting a $115 million loss for Disney after accounting for ancillary revenues.
The controversies surrounding Snow White began well before its release. Zegler’s casting as a Latina actress in the role of Snow White, traditionally depicted as having “skin as white as snow,” sparked debate among fans, with some accusing Disney of straying too far from the source material. The decision to portray the seven dwarfs using CGI rather than hiring actors with dwarfism—following criticism from actor Peter Dinklage—further fueled backlash, drawing accusations of insensitivity. However, it was Zegler’s own comments that truly ignited the firestorm, alienating a significant portion of Disney’s audience and setting the stage for the legal battles that would follow.
In interviews leading up to the film’s release, Zegler criticized the 1937 original, calling it “extremely dated” in its portrayal of women and dismissing the prince as a “stalker” whose love story with Snow White was “weird.” She emphasized that the remake would focus on a more independent Snow White, downplaying the romantic elements of the story. These remarks, made as early as the 2022 D23 Expo, were seen by many fans as disrespectful to a cherished classic, prompting accusations that Zegler was “trashing” Disney tradition. The backlash intensified when Zegler posted politically charged messages on social media, including a “Free Palestine” comment alongside a promotional post for the Snow White trailer in August 2024, and later statements like “Fuck Donald Trump” and “May Trump supporters never know peace” following the 2024 U.S. presidential election. These posts, which amassed millions of views, were widely criticized for alienating a significant portion of Disney’s audience, particularly families who form the core demographic for such films.
The First Lawsuit: Disney Points the Finger
Disney’s initial response to the Snow White fallout was to distance itself from Zegler, scaling back the film’s promotional campaign and premiere to avoid further scrutiny. Behind the scenes, the studio took drastic measures to manage the crisis, including hiring a social media guru to vet Zegler’s posts before the film’s release and beefing up security for Gadot, who faced death threats due to her pro-Israel stance amid Zegler’s political comments. However, these efforts did little to salvage the film’s performance, and on April 10, 2025, reports surfaced that Disney had filed a $200 million lawsuit against Zegler, alleging that her actions directly contributed to the film’s failure.
The first lawsuit claimed that Zegler’s public statements and refusal to adhere to Disney’s social media guidelines caused significant brand damage, leading to a boycott by fans and a devastating box office drop. Producer Marc Platt’s son, Jonah Platt, publicly blamed Zegler for the film’s poor performance, accusing her of “narcissism” and claiming that her political activism “hijacked the conversation” around the movie, jeopardizing the livelihoods of thousands of crew members. The lawsuit sought damages for the financial losses incurred, as well as compensation for the reputational harm inflicted on Disney, a company that relies heavily on nostalgia and family-friendly branding to drive its live-action remakes.
The Second Lawsuit: A $300 Million Escalation
Just weeks after the initial lawsuit, Disney reportedly upped the ante on May 21, 2025, filing a second $300 million lawsuit against Zegler, bringing the total damages sought to $500 million. This second legal action, according to sources familiar with the matter, focuses on additional claims of breach of contract and intentional interference with business relations. Disney alleges that Zegler’s continued public statements, even after the studio’s intervention, further damaged the company’s ability to recover financially from the Snow White disaster. The lawsuit also cites Zegler’s refusal to remove her “Free Palestine” post—despite a personal visit from Marc Platt—as a key factor in escalating tensions with co-star Gadot, which led to costly security measures and a fractured promotional campaign.
Moreover, the second lawsuit reportedly accuses Zegler of violating confidentiality agreements by speaking out about internal discussions with Disney executives, further harming the studio’s reputation. Social media posts on X indicate that Disney is seeking to recover not only the financial losses from Snow White but also damages for the broader impact on its live-action remake strategy, which has been a cornerstone of the company’s box office success for over a decade. The $300 million figure, while staggering, reflects Disney’s assertion that Zegler’s actions have had a ripple effect, potentially jeopardizing future projects and eroding consumer trust in the brand.
Zegler’s Response: A Career in Crisis
Zegler, who has remained relatively silent since the initial lawsuit, is reportedly reeling from the second legal action. Sources claim that the actress broke down in tears during a court appearance on May 22, 2025, begging Disney CEO Bob Iger to reconsider the lawsuits. “I never meant to hurt anyone—I was just being myself,” Zegler allegedly said, according to unverified posts on X. Her legal team has countered Disney’s claims, arguing that the studio is scapegoating her for a film that was doomed to fail due to broader creative and strategic missteps, such as the controversial CGI dwarfs and the decision to modernize the story in a way that alienated purists.
Zegler’s supporters have rallied to her defense, arguing that the backlash against her is rooted in racism and misogyny. They point out that Zegler, as a young Latina actress, has faced disproportionate criticism compared to white male actors who have made similar political statements without facing such severe repercussions. However, the industry response has been less forgiving. Zegler has reportedly been dropped from several high-profile projects, including Disney’s planned Pirates of the Caribbean reboot and a role in Toy Story 5, and her West End debut in Evita was marred by allegations of unprofessional behavior, leading to her replacement just weeks before the show’s premiere on June 14, 2025.
A Double Standard? Comparisons to Gina Carano
The lawsuits against Zegler have drawn comparisons to Disney’s handling of actress Gina Carano, who was fired from The Mandalorian in 2021 over controversial social media posts. Carano, whose comments included a meme comparing being a conservative in Hollywood to being a Jew during the Holocaust, faced swift termination and public condemnation from Disney and Lucasfilm. In contrast, Zegler was initially given a social media handler to manage her posts, a move that critics argue reflects a double standard in how Disney handles politically outspoken stars. Carano, who is currently suing Disney for wrongful termination with funding from Elon Musk, has cited Zegler’s case as evidence of disparate treatment, noting that while Zegler was “shielded” and “managed,” she was “incinerated” and publicly vilified.
This disparity has fueled debates about Disney’s corporate values and its approach to managing talent. Some argue that Zegler’s youth and status as a lead in a major family film warranted a more lenient response, while others see the studio’s actions as a calculated move to protect its investment in Snow White—at least until the film’s failure became undeniable. The lawsuits against Zegler, however, suggest that Disney’s patience has run out, and the company is now seeking to hold her financially accountable for the fallout.
The Bigger Picture: Disney’s Live-Action Strategy Under Scrutiny
The Snow White debacle and the lawsuits against Zegler have broader implications for Disney’s live-action remake strategy, which has been a financial juggernaut since the success of Alice in Wonderland in 2010. Films like The Lion King (2019) and Beauty and the Beast (2017) grossed over $1 billion each, but recent remakes have underperformed compared to expectations. Snow White’s failure, coupled with the legal battles surrounding Zegler, has led some analysts to question whether Disney’s reliance on nostalgia-driven remakes is sustainable in an era of heightened cultural and political sensitivity.
For Zegler, the lawsuits represent a potential career-ending blow. Once seen as a rising star with a Golden Globe win for West Side Story and roles in major franchises like The Hunger Games, she now faces the possibility of being blacklisted by Hollywood studios wary of her controversial reputation. While she has a chance to rebuild with smaller projects like the indie comedy-drama She Gets It From Me, the $500 million in lawsuits looms large, threatening to drain her finances and further damage her standing in the industry.
Conclusion: A Cautionary Tale
Disney’s second $300 million lawsuit against Rachel Zegler marks a dramatic escalation in the fallout from the Snow White disaster, highlighting the high stakes of Hollywood’s blockbuster machine. For Zegler, the legal battles are a stark reminder of the consequences of navigating fame in a hyper-connected world, where personal beliefs can clash with corporate interests. For Disney, the lawsuits are a bold attempt to recoup losses and send a message to future talent about the importance of aligning with the studio’s family-friendly brand.
As the legal proceedings continue, the entertainment world watches closely, grappling with questions of accountability, free speech, and the power dynamics between studios and their stars. Whether Zegler can recover from this unprecedented setback remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the Snow White controversy has become a cautionary tale for a new generation of Hollywood talent, proving that even the brightest stars can fall when the magic of Disney turns sour.