Rachel Zegler refused to delete Palestine post despite Disney pressure
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Rachel Zegler's pro-Palestine stance and tensions with her Israeli co-star Gal Gadot added to the controversy surrounding Disney's Snow White, which struggled amid industry challenges.
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Rachel Zegler arrives at the premiere of "Snow White" on Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Los Angeles (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Disney fans growing tired of the continuous reimaginings of their childhood classics may not be the only reason the freshly released live-action Snow White has performed poorly.
Last year, a social media post from Rachel Zegler in favor of Palestine may have been the spark that set the fire. On August 12, 2024, Zegler sparked outrage by thanking fans for 120 million views on the movie's trailer in 24 hours and concluding with "and always remember, free Palestine."
This brief comment, as reported by Variety, sent shockwaves through Disney's senior echelons, prompting widespread condemnation of both Zegler and the film itself.
The reaction was quick. A Disney official expressed concerns to Zegler's team, while film producer Marc Platt reportedly went over and above, flying to New York for a face-to-face meeting with the actress. Their goal was clear: persuade Zegler to remove the tweet. However, Zegler stuck firm in her political opinion, and the tweet went viral, garnering 9.3 million views.
Three months after the presidential election, Zegler wrote "F*ck Donald Trump," and hoped his voters "never know peace."
This was hardly Zegler's first brush with film-related controversy. At D23, she criticized the original 1937 Snow White, claiming that the "[prince] literally stalks [Snow White]".
According to Variety, Disney hired a social media expert to observe Zegler in the months leading up to the film's premiere.
Clashes with Gal Gadot
The controversy underscored the contrasting stances of Zegler and her co-star, Gal Gadot. While Zegler has been vocal in her support for Palestine, Gadot, an Israeli actress and former IOF soldier, expressed support for the Israeli occupation forces and alleged she received death threats, leading Disney to provide her extra security.
Gadot's Hollywood "Walk of Fame" ceremony was recently disrupted by pro-Palestine demonstrators after "Israel" escalated its attacks on the Gaza Strip and killed hundreds.
Footage shared on X by Variety reporter Katcy Stephan showed protesters chanting “Shame on Gal Gadot.” Another clip depicted multiple individuals handcuffed by police. The crowd also shouted, “Up up with liberation, down down with occupation” and “Not another nickel, not another dime, no more money for Israel’s crime.”
The tension between the two became apparent, with sources noting Gadot's apparent distance and limited interaction with Zegler during interviews and promotional events. Disney also scaled back the film’s premiere, allowing only photographers and a house crew on the red carpet, and at the March 15 premiere, the two stars kept their distance.
A source told Entertainment Tonight that the co-stars were "very controlled" during the event and "kept it friendly" when standing on the red carpet together.
"There has definitely been tension between them, and they are not close by any means," a source said.
While Zegler's comments have made news, they are not the sole reason Snow White failed at the box office.
The film received mixed reviews, with a 42% critics' rating on Rotten Tomatoes, criticized for its lackluster visuals, inability to match the charm of the animated original, and challenges like COVID delays, a location fire, and an actor's strike.
It faced backlash for its casting choices, the portrayal of dwarfs, and attempts to modernize the story, with Zegler's casting as Snow White drawing racist criticism. Additionally, Box Office Mojo reported that 2025’s overall box office is 4.6% lower than 2024, indicating broader industry struggles.
