On May 14, 2025, Rachel Zegler, the 23-year-old actress once celebrated as Hollywood’s rising star, made headlines with a significant gesture: a $1 million donation to Covenant House, a charity supporting homeless youth. The donation, announced via a heartfelt Instagram post, comes at a tumultuous time for Zegler, whose career has been rocked by controversies surrounding her role in Disney’s live-action Snow White and her outspoken political views. Zegler’s team framed the donation as a step toward healing and giving back, but many see it as an attempt to seek forgiveness from online communities that have relentlessly criticized her over the past year. As Zegler navigates this latest chapter, the public response has been mixed, raising questions about whether this act of philanthropy can mend her damaged reputation or if her career remains on shaky ground.
A Career Plagued by Controversy
Rachel Zegler’s journey in Hollywood began with a fairytale-like rise. In 2021, she landed the lead role of Maria in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, earning a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at just 20 years old. Her casting came after beating out 30,000 other actresses, and her powerful vocals and on-screen presence made her an instant sensation. However, her rapid ascent was soon overshadowed by a series of controversies that have defined her public image in recent years.
The most significant blow came with Disney’s live-action Snow White, released in March 2025. The $270 million production became a lightning rod for criticism, starting with Zegler’s casting as a Latina Snow White, which sparked racist backlash from some fans who argued the character should be white. Zegler’s comments during the promotional tour further fueled the fire—she called the 1937 original’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. These remarks alienated fans who cherished the classic, with many accusing her of disrespecting Disney’s legacy.
Zegler’s political activism also drew significant backlash. In August 2024, while celebrating the Snow White trailer’s 120 million views, she posted on X, “And always remember, free Palestine.” The statement, which garnered nearly 9 million views, led to a spike in death threats against her co-star Gal Gadot, who is Israeli, prompting Disney to hire additional security for Gadot and her family. Variety reported that producer Marc Platt flew to New York to address Zegler’s post, but she refused to take it down. Following the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Zegler posted on Instagram, “May Trump supporters… and Trump himself never know peace,” alongside “Fuck Donald Trump,” sparking further outrage from conservative fans and commentators like Megyn Kelly, who demanded she be fired from Snow White. Zegler later apologized, stating, “I let my emotions get the best of me,” but the damage was done.
The Snow White remake flopped at the box office, grossing just $194.5 million globally by late April 2025, far below the $540 million to $810 million needed to break even. A Mother’s Day re-release in May 2025 earned a mere $335,000 across 1,330 theaters, cementing its status as a financial disaster. Zegler’s West End debut in Evita, set to open in July 2025, has also struggled, with reports of unsold seats and her team blaming online trolls for the lack of interest. The cumulative effect of these controversies has left Zegler’s career in a precarious state, with some industry insiders labeling her a “liability” rather than an asset.
The $1 Million Donation: A Strategic Move?
Amid this backdrop of professional and public relations challenges, Zegler’s $1 million donation to Covenant House, a nonprofit providing shelter and support to homeless youth, was announced on May 14, 2025. In her Instagram post, Zegler wrote, “I’ve been reflecting a lot on the past year—on the love I’ve received, the criticism I’ve faced, and the lessons I’ve learned. I want to give back in a meaningful way, and I’m honored to support Covenant House with a $1 million donation to help children who need it most. I hope this can be a step toward healing, understanding, and focusing on what truly matters.” The post included a photo of Zegler visiting a Covenant House shelter, smiling with staff members.
Covenant House, which operates in 34 cities across the Americas, provides housing, education, and job training to homeless youth, many of whom have experienced trauma or abuse. The charity’s CEO, Bill Bedrossian, issued a statement thanking Zegler for her “generous contribution,” noting that the funds would support their efforts to “break the cycle of homelessness for young people.” While the donation was praised by some as a genuine act of goodwill, others viewed it as a calculated move to repair Zegler’s tarnished image.
On X, reactions to the donation were swift and varied. Some users expressed support, with one writing, “Rachel Zegler donating $1 million to Covenant House is a class act. She’s using her platform for good, and I hope people can see past the drama.” Others were more skeptical, with a user commenting, “This feels like a PR stunt to get the internet to forgive her for Snow White and all her political posts. A million dollars doesn’t erase the mess she made.” Another user added, “It’s great that she’s helping homeless kids, but let’s not pretend this isn’t about saving her career. She’s been a PR nightmare for Disney.”
Public Backlash and the Forgiveness Debate
Zegler’s donation comes at a time when she has been a frequent target of online criticism. Her comments about Snow White and her political posts have made her a polarizing figure, with some fans accusing her of being ungrateful and out of touch. Sean Ono Lennon, son of John Lennon, called her a “disconnected brat” in a now-deleted tweet, while Jonah Platt, son of Snow White producer Marc Platt, accused her of “narcissism” and blamed her for the film’s box office failure. Even her West Side Story co-star Ariana DeBose appeared to take a jab at her, sharing a quote about narcissism on Instagram in April 2025, though she later clarified she was unaware it was linked to Zegler.
The online backlash has taken a toll on Zegler, who has spoken about the challenges of fame in past interviews. In a 2023 conversation with Variety, she described how online hate made her feel “like solid Teflon,” but also admitted to the loneliness of being in the spotlight. Her 2022 YouTube video, where she tearfully addressed death threats and trolling, resurfaced in 2023, highlighting the intensity of the scrutiny she has faced. Despite this, Zegler has remained unapologetic about her views, even as they’ve contributed to her professional struggles.
The $1 million donation has sparked a debate about whether such acts of philanthropy can or should buy forgiveness. Some fans argue that Zegler’s intentions are genuine, pointing to her history of advocating for social causes. In a 2024 Reddit thread, a user shared that they donate 5% of their income to Palestinian causes and still enjoy their life, defending Zegler’s right to do the same: “Being invited to the Met Gala is a huge career opportunity for a young starlet like Rachel Zegler, and if she had refused to go it wouldn’t have helped Palestine at all, it’d only hurt her career.” Others, however, see the donation as a desperate attempt to shift the narrative, with one X user writing, “Charity doesn’t erase the fact that she trashed a beloved classic and alienated half her audience with her politics.”
Implications for Zegler’s Career
Zegler’s career is at a crossroads. The failure of Snow White—which earned a 40% score on Rotten Tomatoes and was review-bombed on IMDb with a 1.6/10 rating—has cast a long shadow. Her Evita production is struggling, and her reputation within the industry has taken a hit, with some insiders questioning her viability as a leading actress. Disney’s reported decision to hire a social media guru to vet her posts after her political comments suggests a lack of trust in her judgment, and the studio’s broader shift away from “woke” content following Snow White’s failure may limit her opportunities with major franchises.
However, Zegler has shown resilience. She has a new project lined up—a comedy-drama titled She Gets It From Me with Marisa Tomei—which could offer a fresh start. The film, directed by Julia von Heinz, has been described as a chance for Zegler to showcase her versatility and humor, potentially winning back audiences in a less controversial setting. Some industry figures remain supportive, with film critic David Ehrlich stating on X, “Rachel Zegler RULES and so obviously has a lifetime of incredible roles & performances ahead of her.” Melissa Barrera, who faced similar backlash for her pro-Palestine stance, called Zegler “cool as hell and full of integrity” in an Instagram Story.
Conclusion
Rachel Zegler’s $1 million donation to Covenant House on May 14, 2025, is a significant act of philanthropy, but its timing and context have led many to view it as an attempt to seek forgiveness from online communities that have turned against her. The controversies surrounding Snow White, her political outspokenness, and her professional setbacks have left her career in a precarious state, and this donation—while impactful for the cause—may not be enough to repair her public image. Zegler’s talent and past successes suggest she has the potential to recover, but her ability to navigate the intense scrutiny of fame and reconnect with audiences will be crucial. For now, her gesture has sparked a conversation about accountability, redemption, and the role of philanthropy in celebrity culture, leaving her future in Hollywood uncertain but not without hope.
