Rachel Zegler, the 23-year-old actress who shot to fame with her Golden Globe-winning role in West Side Story (2021), has found herself at the center of yet another storm. On May 14, 2025, Zegler broke her silence on the catastrophic box office performance of Disney’s live-action Snow White, where she starred as the titular princess opposite Gal Gadot’s Evil Queen. In a series of Instagram Stories, Zegler not only addressed the film’s failure but also took pointed jabs at Gadot, reigniting rumors of a feud between the two actresses. With Snow White’s global gross stalling at $194.5 million against a $270 million budget, and a recent Mother’s Day re-release earning a mere $335,000 across 1,330 theaters, the film has been branded one of Disney’s biggest flops in recent history. Zegler’s comments have added fuel to an already fiery controversy, raising questions about her relationship with Gadot, her role in the film’s downfall, and what this means for her future in Hollywood.
Snow White: A Box Office Catastrophe
Disney’s live-action Snow White, released on March 21, 2025, was poised to be a triumphant reimagining of the 1937 animated classic. Directed by Marc Webb, the film promised a modern take on the fairytale, with Zegler as a more empowered Snow White and Gadot as a menacing Evil Queen. However, the production was mired in controversy from the start. Zegler’s casting as a Latina Snow White drew racist backlash from some fans who argued she didn’t fit the character’s traditional description of having “skin as white as snow.” Zegler defended her role, highlighting the cultural significance of Snow White in Spanish-speaking countries, but the criticism persisted.
Further controversy arose when Zegler made comments about the original film, calling its romance plot “weird” and the prince a “stalker” in a 2022 interview with ExtraTV. She emphasized that the remake would focus on Snow White’s agency, replacing the prince with a bandit named Jonathan and omitting the classic song “Someday My Prince Will Come.” These changes alienated fans who cherished the original’s nostalgia, and the decision to replace the Seven Dwarfs with CGI “magical creatures”—following criticism from actor Peter Dinklage about perpetuating stereotypes—drew backlash from dwarf actors who felt excluded.
The film’s political undertones became another flashpoint. In August 2024, Zegler posted on X, “and always remember, free Palestine,” alongside a promotional tweet for Snow White, which garnered nearly 9 million views. The statement led to a spike in death threats against Gadot, a proud Israeli and former IDF instructor, prompting Disney to hire additional security for her. Reports from Variety indicated that producer Marc Platt flew to New York to ask Zegler to be mindful of her social media use, but she refused to remove the post. Following the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Zegler’s Instagram outburst—“May Trump supporters… never know peace”—further alienated conservative audiences, with some calling for a boycott of the film.
When Snow White hit theaters, it opened with a lackluster $43 million domestically, dropping 66% in its second weekend to $14.2 million. By late April 2025, its global total was $194.5 million, far below the $540 million to $810 million needed to break even. A Mother’s Day re-release on May 11, 2025, across 1,330 theaters earned just $335,000—an average of $252 per screen—prompting outlets like The Telegraph to label it an “even bigger disaster” than the original run. The film settled at a 40% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising Zegler’s performance but criticizing Gadot’s “villainous turn” as flat and the CGI as artificial. On IMDb, it holds a 1.6/10 rating from over 343,000 user votes, reflecting a significant review-bombing campaign.
Zegler Breaks Her Silence—and Targets Gadot
After months of relative silence on the film’s performance, Zegler addressed the disaster on May 14, 2025, via Instagram Stories. In her posts, she expressed gratitude to fans who supported her, writing, “I’m so thankful for those who saw the heart I poured into Snow White. This role meant everything to me, and I’ll always stand by the story we told.” However, her tone shifted when she appeared to take aim at Gadot, stating, “It’s unfortunate that some couldn’t separate their personal biases from the work we were trying to create. I wanted to tell a story about unity and strength, but not everyone was on the same page.”
While Zegler didn’t name Gadot directly, the comments were widely interpreted as a jab at her co-star, reigniting rumors of a feud that had been simmering since the film’s press tour. Sources reported that Zegler and Gadot did not conduct interviews together during the limited promotional schedule, which Disney scaled back to avoid an “anti-woke” backlash. The tension between the two actresses is believed to stem from their opposing views on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Gadot’s outspoken support for Israel clashed with Zegler’s pro-Palestine stance, creating a rift that reportedly deepened after shooting wrapped. Some outlets, like the Daily Mail, noted that Gadot does not appear in any of Zegler’s behind-the-scenes Instagram posts from the Snow White set, further fueling speculation of a falling out.
Zegler’s comments also touched on the broader backlash she has faced, stating, “The toxicity around this film has been overwhelming, but I won’t let it define me. I know what I brought to this role, and I’m proud of it.” Her remarks come after months of scrutiny, including accusations from Marc Platt’s son, Jonah Platt, who called Zegler “narcissistic” in a now-deleted Instagram post and blamed her for dragging her politics into the film’s promotion. Zegler’s recent show of support for singer Ben Platt, Marc Platt’s other son, suggests an attempt to mend ties with the Platt family, but her comments about Gadot indicate that not all bridges are ready to be rebuilt.
Gadot’s Response and the Fallout
As of May 15, 2025, Gal Gadot has not publicly responded to Zegler’s comments. However, the actress, who has largely moved on from Snow White, was recently spotted filming a new thriller project, signaling her focus on future endeavors. Gadot’s performance in Snow White received mixed reviews, with Collider’s Ross Bonaime criticizing her as failing to capture the Evil Queen’s menace, though he praised Zegler as “one of the better live-action Disney princesses.” The film’s ban in Lebanon, due to Gadot’s presence on the country’s “Israel boycott list,” added another layer of complexity to her involvement, limiting the film’s international reach.
The tension between Zegler and Gadot has further damaged Snow White’s prospects as it prepares for its digital release on May 13, 2025, followed by 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD releases on June 24. Disney had hoped the streaming release on Disney+ would offer a second life for the film, but the renewed drama threatens to overshadow any potential recovery. Posts on X reflect the ongoing divide, with some users supporting Zegler’s candidness—“Rachel Zegler is calling it like it is. Gadot’s biases hurt the film as much as anything else”—while others criticized her for deflecting blame, with one user writing, “Zegler needs to stop pointing fingers. She’s the one who trashed the original Snow White and alienated fans.”
Disney’s Role and the Bigger Picture
Disney’s handling of the Snow White situation has drawn criticism from multiple angles. The studio has been accused of allowing Zegler to be unfairly targeted by trolls for her pro-Palestine comments, with some arguing that the film’s failure stems more from audience apathy and poor creative choices than Zegler’s politics. The decision to scale back the press tour—no London premiere, limited interviews, and tightly controlled media events—suggests Disney anticipated the backlash but failed to mitigate it effectively. Reports that Disney has “benched” Zegler from further promotional activities indicate a shift in strategy, but this move risks alienating fans who see Zegler as the film’s strongest asset.
The Snow White disaster has broader implications for Disney’s live-action remake strategy. The studio is set to lose $115 million on the project, prompting a reevaluation of future remakes, including a pause on a live-action Tangled. The film’s failure, coupled with the underwhelming performance of other recent remakes like Mufasa: The Lion King, suggests that audiences may be growing tired of Disney’s formulaic approach to reimagining its classics. The cultural backlash against Snow White’s “woke” elements—its progressive narrative, diverse casting, and removal of traditional tropes—has fueled a “go woke, go broke” narrative among some fans, though others argue the film’s issues lie in its execution rather than its politics.
What’s Next for Zegler and Gadot?
For Rachel Zegler, the Snow White fallout has been a harsh lesson in the perils of fame. Despite the film’s failure, her performance has been widely praised, with critics noting her vocal talent and charisma as highlights. She has already lined up her next project, a comedy-drama titled She Gets It From Me with Marisa Tomei, which could offer a chance to pivot to less controversial roles. Her West End debut in Evita, set to open in July 2025, has struggled with ticket sales, but a strong performance could help her reclaim her narrative. Zegler’s recent $1 million donation to Covenant House, a charity for homeless youth, announced on May 14, 2025, suggests an effort to shift focus to positive contributions, though some see it as a PR move to regain public favor.
Gal Gadot, meanwhile, appears to be moving forward with minimal damage. Her career, bolstered by her role as Wonder Woman, is less dependent on Snow White’s success, and her upcoming thriller project indicates she remains in demand. However, the ban in Lebanon and the criticism of her performance may prompt her to be more selective with future roles, particularly in politically charged projects.
Conclusion
Rachel Zegler’s decision to break her silence on Snow White’s box office disaster and her pointed comments toward Gal Gadot have reignited a firestorm of controversy at a time when the film desperately needs a fresh start. The clash between the two actresses, rooted in their differing political views and exacerbated by the film’s failure, has further diminished Snow White’s chances of recovery on streaming platforms. While Zegler’s talent and resilience suggest she can bounce back, the Snow White saga has exposed the challenges of navigating fame, politics, and nostalgia in a deeply polarized cultural landscape. For Disney, the film’s failure is a wake-up call to rethink its approach to live-action remakes, while for Zegler and Gadot, it marks a pivotal moment in their respective careers—one that could either define or redefine their paths in Hollywood.
