Disney’s Snow White Fiasco: Is Rachel Zegler Really to Blame?

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The live-action remake of Disney’s Snow White movie, starring Rachel Zegler, has been a flop at the box office, leading to harsh criticism towards Zegler. In response to the backlash, Jonah Platt, son of producer Marc Platt, criticized Zegler on Instagram, suggesting her actions were responsible for the film’s underperformance. Following this, Jonah addressed comments about his father allegedly traveling to New York to discuss Zegler’s controversial political statements made during the movie’s promotional phase – a story that was covered in Variety magazine.

Defending his father’s actions, Jonah wrote:

It seems you’re determined to take part in this. Indeed, my father, who is responsible for a significant Disney intellectual property with hundreds of millions of dollars at stake, had to abandon his family to travel cross-country to rebuke a 20-year-old team member for intertwining her personal beliefs with the promotion of our movie. She agreed to this role under a multi-million dollar contract and was supposed to do publicity for it.

Jonah didn’t hold back in pointing out how Zegler’s actions impacted the movie’s success:

“Adult accountability and responsibility are required in this situation, as her actions negatively impacted the film’s box office performance. The idea of free speech does not grant one the liberty to make reckless comments without consequences, especially in a professional setting where many others rely on its success. This film was made by countless individuals, and her selfish actions could potentially harm all those involved – from cast members to crew and blue-collar workers who depend on the movie’s success. Indulging narcissism is not something that should be tolerated or fostered.

Ever since Disney announced that Colombian-Polish actress Rachel Zegler would play Snow White, there’s been a lot of debate. People have questioned Disney’s decision to cast someone who doesn’t fit the typical image of a fair-skinned Caucasian for Snow White, as seen in the 1937 animated film, the original Grimm Brothers’ tale, and numerous other adaptations. Zegler herself added to the controversy by describing the original movie as “outdated” and “odd,” which didn’t sit well with fans of the classic tale.

It’s clear that Zegler’s political remarks and brash actions have undeniably harmed the movie “Snow White,” but it’s Disney that should bear the main responsibility. The studio intentionally chose an actress of color with a history of making contentious public statements for this role, seemingly ignoring how these choices might impact their $200 million remake. Rather than selecting someone who could embody Snow White’s enduring charm, Disney opted for Zegler despite her questionable past—a decision that has proven to be disastrous. One can’t help but wonder if they truly believed the movie would thrive under such choices? Have they not learned from their mistakes?

Ultimately, Zegler’s immature behavior and self-focus likely contributed to the flop of Snow White, but Disney bears the brunt of the blame for casting her in such a role. They took a risk by choosing an actress whose actions drove fans away, overshadowing the movie itself, effectively setting it up for failure right from the start. While Platt’s assessment isn’t off-base, the necessary action to rein her in should have been implemented at the onset of production, not after the film had already tanked at the box office.

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2025-03-27 16:30