Snow White star Rachel Zegler has been receiving a lot of hate comments around the internet, especially in the days leading up to the new Disney film's release.
The Golden Globe-winning actress has been the subject of controversies in the past due to her comments criticizing the original Snow White movie, remarks during the 2024 US presidential election, and rumors of beef with co-star Gal Gadot.
There were also racist remarks when Zegler was announced to have been cast as Snow White since she is an actress of Colombian descent and some people believed that the character should have been played by someone who is as "white as snow."
Why The Hate Towards Rachel Zegler Feels Forced
For the past few weeks, Zegler has been actively promoting Disney's live-action remake of Snow White. This is despite the reports that the studio has been nervous about their promotional campaign for the film.
While the Golden Globe winner is committed to promoting the film and making sure that millions of people worldwide will go to a theater to see it, some Disney fans still remember her controversial comments about the original animated classic.
To recap, Zegler said in a 2023 interview that the original was "extremely dated when it comes to the ideas of women being in roles of power and what a woman is fit for in the world."
She noted that the new version is "really not about the love story at all" and focuses on the titular princess' "inner journey that she goes on to find her true self."
Fans of the original were upset by Zegler's comments as they perceived it as an insult to the beloved classic. However, fans of the actress have also defended her arguing that she was just pointing out that the remake will offer a modern take on the classic story.
After all, most (if not all) Disney live-action remakes of their animated films have put a modern spin on the classic stories and not rely on the usual princess tropes that might be tiring to see now for contemporary audiences.
Unfortunately, the actress' past remarks continue to become a point of contention in the film's promotional campaign and the internet has created a forced narrative against her.
Zegler has proven that she has a strong affinity for the character of Snow White and took the responsibility of representing a Disney princess that has endured generations of audiences since 1937.
She even paid homage to original voice actress Adriana Caselotti in a photoshoot and acknowledged that she "owes everything" to her.
Rachel Zegler on the Importance of Snow White and Ariana Grande's Support
In a recent interview, Zegler opened up about the importance of the story of Snow White to new generations.
"That’s why it’s so important for the next generation to see movies like Snow White. To realize there’s nothing wrong with choosing to do what’s right and that it doesn’t have to be with anger or a clenched fist," she said.
"Snow White chooses kindness and still makes change. Power takes many forms. I hope we’ll see a new dawn of kindness and acceptance in the next couple of years. And people don’t see the need to use hate to cause further division."
Zegler also revealed that Ariana Grande has shown support to her amid the backlash that she has received around the internet.
"She reached out to me—kind of apropos of nothing—and was like, 'If you need anything, I am here.' She is so deeply kind. She has gone through so much in the public eye, and I have always really, really admired her courage in the face of all of that," she shared.
What do you think of the internet hate against Zegler? Let us know in the comments!
Make sure to follow our official Facebook page for more news and explainer articles about your favorite films and TV shows!