Rachel Zegler, once heralded as Hollywood’s next big star, has seen her meteoric rise come to an abrupt and devastating halt by May 2025. At just 23 years old, the actress who burst onto the scene with a Golden Globe-winning performance in West Side Story (2021) is now grappling with a series of professional setbacks that have left her career in jeopardy. From the catastrophic failure of Disney’s live-action Snow White to the dismal ticket sales of her West End debut in Evita, Zegler’s once-promising trajectory has been derailed by a combination of controversies, public backlash, and her own polarizing statements. As she navigates this challenging period, many are questioning whether Zegler can recover from this crushing halt or if her time in the spotlight has ended far too soon.
A Star Is Born: Zegler’s Rapid Rise to Fame
Rachel Zegler’s journey to stardom began in 2018 when, as a high school student, she submitted a YouTube audition video singing “Shallow” from A Star Is Born. Her talent caught the eye of Steven Spielberg, who cast her as Maria in his 2021 remake of West Side Story. The film, though a box office disappointment with $76 million against a $100 million budget, earned critical acclaim, and Zegler’s performance was a standout. She won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, becoming the youngest Latina to receive the award at age 20. Her powerful vocals and on-screen charisma made her an instant sensation, with Hollywood quickly lining up major roles for her in Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023), The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023), and Disney’s live-action Snow White (2025).
Born on May 3, 2001, in New Jersey to a Colombian mother and Polish father, Zegler had a background in musical theater, performing in school productions like Legally Blonde and Beauty and the Beast. Her overnight success story—from a normal teenager to a Hollywood star—captivated the industry and fans alike. By 2023, she was seen as a trailblazer, representing a new generation of diverse talent in an industry often criticized for its lack of representation. However, the same authenticity and outspokenness that made her a breath of fresh air would soon become the very qualities that threatened to derail her career.
The Snow White Debacle: A Turning Point
The first major crack in Zegler’s career came with Disney’s live-action Snow White, released in March 2025. The $270 million production was poised to be the pinnacle of her young career, but it quickly became a lightning rod for controversy. Zegler’s casting as Snow White, a character traditionally depicted as having “skin as white as snow,” sparked racist backlash from some fans who opposed a Latina actress in the role. Zegler addressed the criticism in a since-deleted tweet in 2021, stating, “Yes I am Snow White, no I am not bleaching my skin for the role.” The film’s creative decisions, such as replacing the Seven Dwarfs with CGI “magical creatures” after criticism from actor Peter Dinklage about perpetuating stereotypes, further fueled debate, with dwarf actors like Jason Acuna expressing frustration over lost opportunities.
Zegler’s own comments about the original 1937 film added fuel to the fire. During the promotional tour, she called the classic’s romance plot “weird” and its prince a “stalker,” emphasizing that the remake would focus on Snow White’s agency rather than her love story. The decision to replace Prince Charming with a bandit named Jonathan and remove the song “Someday My Prince Will Come” alienated fans who cherished the nostalgia of the original. Zegler’s political activism also became a point of contention. In August 2024, she tweeted “free Palestine” alongside a post celebrating the Snow White trailer’s 120 million views, a move that reportedly led to death threats against her co-star Gal Gadot, a proud Israeli and former IDF instructor. Variety reported that producer Marc Platt flew to New York to address Zegler’s social media activity, but she refused to delete the post. Her post-election Instagram rant in November 2024, where she wrote, “May Trump supporters… never know peace,” further polarized audiences, drawing criticism from conservative fans and commentators.
The film’s box office performance was a disaster, grossing just $194.5 million globally by late April 2025, far short of the $540 million to $810 million needed to break even. A Mother’s Day re-release in May 2025 earned a paltry $335,000 across 1,330 theaters, averaging $252 per theater—a humiliating result for a Disney film. On IMDb, Snow White has been review-bombed, holding a 1.6/10 rating from over 343,000 user votes, making it one of the lowest-rated films on the platform. Critics gave it a 40% score on Rotten Tomatoes, marking it as Zegler’s third consecutive “Rotten” release. Disney is projected to lose $115 million on the project, a significant blow to the studio’s live-action remake strategy.
Evita Struggles: A West End Dream Turns Sour
Following the Snow White fallout, Zegler turned to theater, hoping to reclaim her roots with a starring role in a West End revival of Evita at the Dominion Theatre, set to open in July 2025. Playing Eva Perón in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s 1978 musical was a dream role for Zegler, who expressed excitement about the opportunity to showcase her vocal talents. However, the production has been plagued by poor ticket sales, with reports emerging as early as April 2025 that seats were going unsold just two months before the premiere. By May 2025, YouTube channels and posts on X were describing the situation as a “disaster,” with some claiming Zegler broke down live on air due to the lack of audience turnout—a claim that remains unverified but reflects the intense scrutiny she faces.
Zegler’s team has blamed the ticket sales decline on online trolls, pointing to the racist and misogynistic backlash she has faced since Snow White. However, this explanation has been met with skepticism. Posts on X suggest that audiences are simply tired of Zegler’s perceived attitude and political outspokenness, with some users stating they wouldn’t attend the show due to her behavior rather than any trolling campaign. Her casting in Evita also drew criticism from Madonna, who played Eva Perón in the 1996 film adaptation. Sources close to the singer told the Daily Mail that Madonna felt Zegler failed to acknowledge her iconic portrayal, adding another layer of controversy to the production.
A Pattern of Backlash and Lost Support
Zegler’s career woes extend beyond box office numbers and ticket sales. She has faced criticism from within the industry, with some of her former collaborators distancing themselves. Ariana DeBose, her West Side Story co-star, appeared to take aim at Zegler in April 2025 by sharing a quote from Jonah Platt, the son of Snow White producer Marc Platt, who called Zegler “narcissistic” in a now-deleted post. DeBose later clarified that she was unaware the quote was about Zegler, but the incident highlighted the growing tension surrounding Zegler’s reputation. Jonah Platt’s comments were particularly scathing, accusing Zegler of dragging her personal politics into the film’s promotion and hurting its financial performance.
Sean Ono Lennon, the son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, also criticized Zegler in April 2025, joining a chorus of voices calling out her behavior. Podcast host Zack Peter, speaking to Fox News, argued that Zegler’s political outbursts created a “perfect storm” of bad press that contributed to Snow White’s failure, suggesting that Disney failed to provide her with adequate media training. Some industry observers have drawn comparisons to Melissa Barrera, who was fired from the Scream franchise after expressing support for Palestinians, warning that Zegler could face a similar fate if she doesn’t adjust her approach.
A Glimmer of Hope Amid the Storm
Despite the setbacks, Zegler has lined up her next project: an indie comedy-drama titled She Gets It From Me, where she will star alongside Marisa Tomei. The film, directed by German filmmaker Julia von Heinz, follows Zegler as Nicky, a young woman who reconnects with her estranged ex-punk rocker birth mother, played by Tomei. Producer Jen Dana praised Zegler’s “depth and humanity,” expressing excitement for her to showcase her versatility and humor. While the film has no promotional materials yet, it offers a potential opportunity for Zegler to pivot to smaller, less controversial projects and rebuild her career.
Some fans and industry figures remain supportive. Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver, on their podcast Miss Me?, defended Zegler in April 2025, arguing that the Snow White failure wasn’t her fault and criticizing the “smear campaign” against her. Film critic David Ehrlich has also expressed optimism about her future, stating on X that Zegler “has a lifetime of incredible roles & performances ahead of her.” However, the mixed reactions to her new project are telling—while some fans are excited, others on X have expressed reluctance to support her, with comments like, “Rachel Zegler is enough to not watch it.”
The Bigger Picture: Can Zegler Recover?
Rachel Zegler’s career has come to a crushing halt far sooner than anyone could have predicted. The combination of Snow White’s failure, the Evita ticket sales debacle, and the loss of industry support has left her in a precarious position. Her outspokenness, while a strength in terms of authenticity, has proven to be a double-edged sword, alienating audiences and making her a polarizing figure in Hollywood. The entertainment industry is notoriously fickle, and young actresses often face disproportionate scrutiny, as seen with stars like Millie Bobby Brown, who has also spoken out about toxic backlash.
Yet, Zegler’s talent is undeniable. Her performances in West Side Story and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes demonstrate her range and vocal prowess, and at 23, she has time to recover. Hollywood has a short memory, and a well-received indie project or a strategic career pivot could help her regain her footing. For now, though, Zegler must navigate the fallout of her recent failures and the intense public scrutiny that has defined her career thus far. Whether she can rise from this crushing halt remains to be seen, but her journey serves as a cautionary tale about the challenges of balancing authenticity with the demands of stardom in the digital age.
