Rachel Zegler, the lead actress in Disney’s Snow White (2025) remake, received strong criticism online after her casting and public remarks. Her comments about the original 1937 film caused major backlash, especially when she said the love story in the original version felt “strange” and that her version would show a more independent princess. While some praised the modern take, others believed she dismissed the story’s original charm. Her statements led to online arguments, with some fans saying Disney was changing too much of the classic fairytale.
Zegler also became a target of harsh criticism on social media. Some people reacted negatively to her background, while others were upset by how she spoke about traditional Disney roles. She shared a childhood photo of herself dressed as Snow White, trying to show her connection to the character. Despite this, some felt her tone came across as too critical of the original film. This made many long-time Disney fans feel disconnected from the new version.
Disney’s Snow White (2025) Fails at Box Office, Faces Backlash
Disney’s Response and Public Support
After the growing controversy, Disney made several changes to how they handled the movie. The studio avoided large promotional events and instead held a smaller, more private premiere. This decision showed that Disney may have been trying to lower public attention during the film’s release. They also made a key change by removing the classic “seven dwarfs” and replacing them with different, CGI-created characters—partly in response to earlier concerns raised by actor Peter Dinklage.
While Rachel Zegler faced criticism, she also received encouragement from several celebrities. Actress Halle Bailey, who played Ariel in The Little Mermaid remake, shared words of support and reminded Zegler to stay thankful. Drew Barrymore also said she would take her daughters to see the film, showing support for the updated version. These voices helped Zegler remain hopeful about the movie’s message and her part in it.
Here are a few takeaways from the situation:
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Rachel Zegler’s modern take on Snow White received both support and criticism.
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Her public comments caused fans to compare the remake with the original story.
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Disney reduced its public promotion and changed major elements of the film.
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Some celebrities supported Zegler during the backlash, helping balance public opinion.
