Rachel Zegler has been criticized by the public following the poor box office performance of Disney's Snow White. But there are celebrities who still have her back despite the controversies.
Between being blamed by the producer’s son for the remake’s poor reception and receiving backlash after making unfavorable remarks about the original Snow White, this year has not been great for Zegler.
Still, some Hollywood stars have spoken up to defend the 23-year-old actress, who continues to divide public opinion.
Ariana Grande
Wicked star Ariana Grande is one of Zegler’s allies, as revealed by the Latina actress in her interview with Allure.
“Ariana Grande reached out to me, apropos of nothing, and said, ‘If you need anything, I am here.’ She is so deeply kind.”
Zegler reflected on the hardships the pop star experienced when she was initially reproached by Wicked fans after being cast as Glinda.
“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,” Zegler added.
Aside from Grande, Zegler also shared that she felt “very held” by her Shazam! Fury of the Gods co-stars, Lucy Liu and Helen Mirren, who have cheered her on privately.
Melissa Barrera
Melissa Barrera has also shown support for Zegler after the West Side Story actress publicly expressed her support for Palestine, a stance that drew disapproval from various individuals online.
On her Instagram Story, the Scream star reposted a message from makeup artist Matt Bernstein, who criticized Variety for portraying Zegler as “difficult and politically radical.”
Bernstein also called Zegler “cool as hell and full of integrity,” and Barrera appeared to agree based on her repost.
The Mexican actress had also been reprimanded for using her platform to advocate for Palestine and condemn Hamas in 2023, which resulted in her removal from the Scream franchise.
Jameela Jamil
Zegler told Allure that Jameela Jamil is also part of her ‘strong women’ alliance.
“Jamil is like a big sister to me,” said the Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes actress.
Jamil, who starred as Tahani in The Good Place, was also described by Zegler as “outspoken, strong-willed, and strong-minded.”
Zegler expressed admiration for the British activist’s unapologetic personality, as shown by Jamil’s four-heart comment on Glamour UK’s Instagram post featuring the article, “Why is Hollywood so afraid of Rachel Zegler and other women who speak their minds.”
Pedro Pascal
The Last of Us actor Pedro Pascal took to Instagram to show that he’s on Zegler’s side.
Pascal, a known supporter of trans rights and the Palestinian cause, posted a picture of Zegler on his story with the text, “#icon.”
Diego Calva
Before Snow White’s theatrical release, Disney reportedly pressured Zegler to delete her posts on X regarding the Palestine-Israel conflict.
However, the actress refused. In a post showing her standing by her views, Diego Calva commented, “She is the best.”
The Narcos: Mexico actor also liked Matt Bernstein’s post on the celebrities4palestine Instagram account, which Barrera also shared.
Additionally, Diego expressed his thoughts about Gal Gadot by posting a screenshot of the Wonder Woman actress on his Story with the text, “The irony that colonizer Gal Gadot plays a colonizer in the new Snow White movie.”
Allie Trimm
Broadway star Allie Trimm is also behind Zegler in using social media to show support for Palestine.
The Glinda actress shared a screenshot of the Variety article, captioning it, "I stand with @rachelzegler. No one should be intimidated or silenced for their support for a free Palestine."
Nicola Coughlan
Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan also liked the Glamour UK article, “Why is Hollywood so afraid of Rachel Zegler and other women who speak their minds,” showing her support for Zegler.
Coughlan is among the celebrities who have used their platforms to speak openly about the Gaza-Israel conflict, and her 2024 Teen Vogue interview discussed how taking a stance can often affect careers in Hollywood.
“You do get told, 'You won’t get work, you won’t do this.' But I also think, deep down, if you know that you’re coming from a place of 'I don’t want any innocent people to suffer,’” the Irish actress said.
Ethel Cain
While critics rip into the Snow White movie and its cast, Ethel Cain used her Instagram to encourage Zegler to keep going.
The singer-songwriter posted on her IG Story, “@rachelzegler don't let em get u down, legend.”
Reneé Rapp
Reneé Rapp, known for her role as Regina George in the Mean Girls Broadway musical and its 2024 film adaptation, liked a TikTok video defending Zegler. The clip featured the words, “I could genuinely talk for hours about the hate campaign toward Rachel Zegler and how she's never done a single thing to deserve any of it.”
The TikTok creator, who also said, “You will always see me sticking up for her and defending her,” shared Rapp’s like on X.
Fellow Actors Who Have Turned Against Rachel Zegler
Zegler’s casting as Snow White and her political views have placed her at the center of multiple controversies. Despite it all, the rising star still has several Hollywood actors and musicians backing her.
However, there are those who have expressed their dislike of the actress’s behavior, some publicly, while others are rumored to have personal issues with he
Russel Brand
Russell Brand called Zegler “haughty” in a recent X post.
He shared his thoughts in a video referencing Zegler’s 2022 interview, where she described the original Snow White as “weird” and Prince Charming as a “stalker.”
“But I’ve been a star before, and what happens is people puff you up and tell you that you’re really important in order to keep you focused so they continue to make money off of you,” he said.
The 49-year-old actor turned influencer added that Zegler is just one of many stars being used as pawns in the entertainment industry.
Ariana DeBose
Zegler’s West Side Story co-star Ariana DeBose shared an image on Instagram on April 1 with the text, “Narcissism is not something to be coddled or encouraged.”
The now-deleted post was speculated to be a jab at Zegler, especially after Snow White producer’s son Jonah Platt described the film’s protagonist as “narcissistic” and “immature.”
DeBose later addressed the speculation on the same platform, saying, “I have no intention of inserting myself into a news cycle. This is not the first time I’ve posted about dealing with narcissism, and it probably won’t be the last—but next time I’ll be sure to clarify its origins first.”
Gal Gadot
Snow White’s Evil Queen herself, Gal Gadot, has been rumored to have clashed with Zegler due to their opposing views on the conflict in the Middle East.
The Israeli actress has been vocal about her support for her country since the war began, while Zegler has openly sided with Palestine, prompting speculation about on-set tension between them.
Things also appeared noticeably awkward during their red carpet reunion at the Snow White premiere. Fans observed that their smiles in photos together looked “forced” and “faked.”
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