Disney’s Snow White has been in the headlines since its announcement. While the casting of Rachel Zegler, who is half-Colombian, initially sparked debate, backlash escalated when her past comments criticizing the 1937 animated film upset fans. Now, many are speculating whether Disney fired Rachel Zegler or quietly distanced itself from her amid the ongoing backlash.
Was Rachel Zegler fired by Disney?
Despite ongoing speculation, Rachel Zegler has not been fired by Disney. The live-action Snow White was released as planned, but the film has been surrounded by controversy since its announcement.
A report from Page Six suggested that Disney was uncertain about how to handle the backlash surrounding Zegler, resulting in a scaled-back promotional campaign. The press tour and premiere, which were initially expected to be high-profile events, were reportedly reduced. However, Disney has not publicly addressed this.
Rachel Zegler’s ‘woke outburst,’ explained
Rachel Zegler has faced backlash for her past remarks about Disney’s 1937 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, with critics online referring to her comments as a “woke outburst.” The controversy started from interviews where she criticized the original film’s portrayal of Snow White.
In interviews at Disney’s 2022 D23 Expo, Zegler dismissed the film’s classic love story. She said, “The original cartoon came out in 1937 and very evidently so. There’s a big focus on her love story with the guy who literally stalks her. Weird, weird.” The actress also emphasized that the live-action is “not about the love story.” (via Extra TV)
Her comments sparked criticism from fans of the original film, some of whom saw her remarks as dismissive of the story’s legacy. Even David Hale Hand, son of the supervising director of the 1937 film, criticized Disney’s direction with the remake.
Here are Rachel Zegler’s upcoming projects
It seems Rachel Zegler currently has no upcoming movies. However, she is set to make her West End debut in Evita, a revival of the iconic Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.
Directed by Jamie Lloyd, the show will be staged at the London Palladium. Zegler will take on the role of Eva Peron, Argentina’s former First Lady (via Variety). This marks a major step in Zegler’s career, expanding beyond film into live theater.
Previews begin on June 14, with opening night scheduled for July 1. The production will run until September 6.
Originally reported by Disheeta Maheshwari on ComingSoon.
