The live-action remake of the Disney classic “Snow White” hit theaters in March, but in the months up to its release, the Evil Queen wasn’t the only one cursing it. Rachel Zegler, who plays Snow White and made her name starring in “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” and “West Side Story,” received backlash due to comments about the storyline of “Snow White” and comments about the 2024 presidential election. Because of this, fans framed her as the wrong choice for the movie. Fans wanted to boycott the movie and demand that Disney cut ties with and even replace Zegler entirely.
Disney also received racist criticism online after the actress, who is Latina, was cast to play the princess famously known for her “skin as white as snow” complexion. Zegler brought a modern twist to her portrayal of Snow White, but critics are outraged about perceived changes to the beloved original 1937 classic inspired by modern social and cultural awareness. In this new adaptation of the movie, there are changes, implying Snow White is no longer saved by a prince.
“She’s not gonna be dreaming about true love, she’s dreaming about becoming a leader she knows she can be,” Zegler said in a Variety interview.
In an interview with Disney’s D23 Expo in 2022, Zegler criticizes Prince Charming, the love interest in the 1937 film. Fans of the original film took offense to Zegler’s comment and saw her perspective of the prince as disrespectful.
“There’s a big focus on her love story with the guy who literally stalks her,” Zegler said, “Weird, weird.”
Zegler defended her comments in another Variety interview, saying that they were taken out of context and that her joke didn’t land well. She made sure that fans know the love story between the prince and the princess was still a part of the new film.
Another controversy started when Zegler made political comments following the 2024 U.S. election.
“May Trump supporters and Trump voters and Trump himself never know peace,” Zegler said on Instagram. She later apologized for the comment.
The movie itself also faced criticism with their decision to not use real dwarf actors to play the Seven Dwarfs. The Seven Dwarfs, Happy, Sneezy, Sleepy, Dopey, Bashful, Grumpy and Doc were all replaced with CGI to prevent reinforcing stereotypes. Disney stated they consulted with members of the dwarfism community to ensure their approach was informed and sensitive.
Disney is arguably best known for their classic fairytale films, but they’re even better known in recent times for remaking them into live-action movies. Popular live-action movies include “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and The Beast,” “Cinderella,” “Aladdin” and “Mulan,” which were all great hits in the theatres. Filming for their newest live-action movie, “Snow White,” began in March of 2022 and premiered on March 21, 2025.
Shoots for the movie were delayed as COVID-19 cases flared up just as production began in London, forcing Disney to adopt safety protocols. This added millions of dollars to their budget. One of the sets, a cottage with a thatched roof, caught fire on a soundstage. The 2023 actors’ strike forced Disney to stop reshoots. Disney spent so much money on their film “Snow White”, only for it to be unsuccessful in the box office.
