What did Rachel Zegler say about Snow White that led to backlash? Details explored

Disney's live-action Snow White, starring Rachel Zegler as Snow White, is slated to be released on 21st March, 2025. The film also stars Gal Gadot, Andrew Burnap, Ansu Kabia, and many others.

Ever since the news of its release has arrived, Disney's Snow White has been a hotbed of controversies. One of the major reasons that led to the controversy is due to Rachel Zegler's comments in relation to the original Snow White and its remake.

In an interview with Variety, Rachel Zegler shed light on how different this Snow White is going to be this time from the original Snow White, as she says:

“I just mean that it’s no longer 1937,”

“We absolutely wrote a ‘Snow White’ that ... she’s not going to be saved by the prince, and she’s not going to be dreaming about true love"

Let us find out what more the actor said about Snow White that has led to all the controversy.

"It's really not about the love story at all", says Rachel Zegler about Snow White live-action

In an interview with Variety, Rachel Zegler talked about what we can expect in the treatment of Snow White's character this time in this live-action. She highlights the fact that this time the makers subvert the classical idea of her character being reliant on a male counterpart to rescue her.

Rather, this time, Snow White is an independent woman who does not need saving, as she says:

“We absolutely wrote a ‘Snow White’ that ... she’s not going to be saved by the prince, and she’s not going to be dreaming about true love; she’s going to be dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be and that her late father told her that she could be if she was fearless, fair, brave and true. And so, it's just a really incredible story for young people everywhere to see themselves in."

People are wondering what could be the storyline of the Prince and Snow White in the forthcoming live-action. Upon which, Rachel Zegler, while speaking to Extra TV, shared her opinions about the Prince's character in the OG Snow White. She explains how they are going to change that this time by saying,

"The original cartoon came out in 1937, and very evidently so. There's a big focus on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. Weird, weird. So we didn't do that this time.

We have a different approach to what I'm sure a lot of people will assume is a love story just because we cast a guy in the movie, Andrew Burnap, great dude. It's one of those things that I think everyone's going to have their assumptions about what it's actually going to be, but it's really not about the love story at all, which is really wonderful. Whether she finds love along the way is anybody's guess until 2024."

She further explains the focal point of the live-action of Snow White of 2025. She elucidates it to be more about Snow White's personal introspective journey in her self-discovery, as she says:

"It's an inner journey that she goes on to find her true self and she meets a lot of people along the way that make the journey really incredible."

In another interview with Entertainment Weekly, Rachel Zegler had candidly expressed being afraid of the OG Snow White cartoon. She said,

"I was scared of the original cartoon. I think I watched it once and then I never picked it up again. Like, I am being so serious. I watched it once and then I went on the ride in Disney World which was called 'Snow White's Scary Adventures'. Doesn't sound like something a little kid would like..was terrified of it. Never revisited Snow White again. So I watched it for the first time in probably 16-17 years when I was doing this film."

Rachel Zegler's comments have met with harsh criticism online, along with bullying. While at the same time, some also came in her support as well.

The major criticism that Rachel Zegler has faced about her comments is that they feel Rachel Zegler is making a jibe at the original Snow White film.

Whereas, the ones who support Rachel Zegler feel like the backlash she is facing is unwarranted. As reported by NBC, one of the users on X (@blueromanticss) has also pointed out the audiences' hypocritical nature in their post by saying:

harrison ford and robert pattinson actively hate star wars and twilight and yet it’s hehe funny and all rachel zegler did was say snow white scared her as kid.