(Image Source: Walt Disney Pictures)
Disney's live-action "Snow White" has been embroiled in an endless public relations crisis since its casting announcement. The most significant backlash from global audiences has stemmed from lead actress Rachel Zegler's past comments mocking the animated film's plot, her social media posts criticizing Donald J. Trump, and her public support for Palestine.
However, Variety reported today that Disney has not entirely ignored Zegler's actions. As early as last August, the studio began efforts to mitigate the situation. When the first "Snow White" trailer was released, Zegler quickly shared it, then added a comment in the replies encouraging support for Palestine. Disney executives were reportedly shocked that Zegler would express personal political views while promoting the film. Producer Marc Platt even flew to New York to discuss the matter with Zegler in person, but she ultimately refused to delete the post.
(Image Source: IMDb)
Complicating matters, Gal Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen opposite Zegler, is Israeli and has frequently shared posts about the Israel-Palestine conflict, openly supporting her home country. This has created an awkward dynamic between her and Zegler, both professionally and personally. While Zegler has primarily faced online criticism, Gadot has reportedly received actual death threats, prompting Disney to allocate additional funds to upgrade her security.
An anonymous source interviewed by Variety seemingly attributed the death threats against Gadot to Zegler's actions, even though Gadot's own statements had already drawn significant criticism. The source reportedly stated that Zegler did not understand the impact her actions would have on the film, on Gadot, or on anyone else involved.
(Image Source: People)
Variety indicated that Zegler only began to accept Disney's damage control measures and work with their hired social media experts to vet all her posts before the film's release after her anti-Trump comments gained traction. However, one industry agent believes Disney intervened too late, noting that the studio had initially allowed Zegler to mock the animated prince as a stalker during the D23 Expo. This reluctance to impose speech restrictions on its own actors was reportedly amplified after Disney was sued for free speech restrictions and wrongful termination by "The Mandalorian" actress Gina Carano.
While rumors have circulated about a private feud between Gadot and Zegler, Variety's sources stated that the two were amicable leading up to this year's Academy Awards. The atmosphere reportedly soured after the ceremony when Zegler replied to an Instagram comment, referring to Gadot as a "professional beauty queen," a remark widely interpreted as dismissive of Gadot's acting abilities and implying she relied solely on her looks.
via： Variety