Rachel Zegler has bravely opened up about the personal toll that the backlash from her casting in Disney’s Snow White has taken on her life. Directed by Marc Webb, known for The Amazing Spider-Man, this live-action adaptation features Zegler in the iconic role of the princess, with Gal Gadot portraying the Evil Queen. Since the announcement of her casting, Zegler has endured relentless criticism, a situation that continues as the movie prepares for its theatrical release in 2025.
In an insightful discussion with Cosmopolitan, Zegler revealed harrowing experiences, including instances of people standing outside her apartment, shouting profanities. She elaborated on the harassment that emerged following her casting announcement and reflected on the personal challenges it presented. Zegler emphasized the importance of self-discovery and personal growth throughout this turbulent time, sharing her journey of resilience. Here are her poignant remarks:
For being brown. For having brown skin. For playing Snow White. There was a lot of harassment from a certain group of people—they were showing up at my apartment and screaming profanities.
Where I wanted to, in a way that made it seem like it was tongue in cheek. Then it got to a point where it was not funny anymore and I really hated myself for something that other people were telling me about myself. But my ability to bounce back from that and still be passionate about the work I did for that project is something that I admire about myself.
Understanding the Backlash Against Zegler’s Snow White Casting
A Reflection on Societal Issues Behind the Backlash
As Zegler articulates, the vitriol directed at her casting stems from deeply ingrained issues of racism and bigotry. Critics argue against Zegler, who is of Colombian heritage, portraying a character traditionally associated with whiteness. However, as Zegler highlighted, this adaptation of Snow White adopts a modern interpretation of the character’s name; it is inspired by an alternate fairy tale version where she endures a snowstorm as an infant, symbolizing her resilience.
She further pointed out elements of the original story that may merit reevaluation, describing the prince in the 1937 version as “a guy who literally stalks” Snow White. Zegler stressed that the live-action adaptation will showcase a more dynamic and empowered protagonist, transforming her from a passive character fixated solely on romantic love to one with her own ambitions and agency.
Our Perspective on Zegler’s Experiences
Racism and intolerance are unequivocally unacceptable, particularly when they manifest as harassment directed at individuals in their own homes. Disney’s rich history of storytelling includes numerous adaptations of classic tales, making it both inaccurate and misleading to insist that a single racial interpretation must define a character like Snow White. Such claims merely serve as a cover for deeper, more harmful biases. Zegler’s portrayal and costume choices will signal a fresh retelling of an enduring story.
Instances of Backlash Against Other Actors
Tracing the Historical Context of Backlash Against Diverse Casting
The alarming backlash faced by Zegler is unfortunately a repetition of a broader pattern within Hollywood, especially as diversity initiatives gain momentum. Many actors of color, particularly women, have found themselves at the center of social media storms from those unwilling to accept change. If anything, Zegler’s experience mirrors the experiences of others who have encountered similar negative attention.
The Star Wars franchise has been notable for its vehement backlash against diverse casting choices. Kelly Marie Tran’s role as Rose in The Last Jedi served as one of the first significant examples, with the positive reception of her character overshadowed by rampant trolling. Tran’s reflection on her experiences conveyed the deep-seated insecurities exacerbated by such hostility:
“It wasn’t their words, it’s that I started to believe them. Their words seemed to confirm what growing up as a woman and a person of color already taught me: that I belonged in margins and spaces, valid only as a minor character in their lives and stories.”
More recently, actors like Moses Ingram, cast as Reva Sevander, faced a similar onslaught of hateful commentary, prompting Disney and co-stars to vocally support her. Amandla Stenberg has also pointed out the unjust attacks she experienced following her casting in The Acolyte, expressing dismay over the premature vitriol:
“For those who aren’t aware, there has been a rampage of vitriol that we have faced since the show was even announced, when it was still just a concept and no one had even seen it,”she explained.
Before Zegler, Halle Bailey also faced hateful scrutiny for her role as Ariel in the live-action version of The Little Mermaid, illustrating that this trend isn’t limited to film alone; even in theater, actors like Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, newly cast in Romeo and Juliet alongside Tom Holland, have similarly become targets of online abuse.
The persistent backlash against Zegler’s casting in Snow White underscores a troubling trend within the online discourse surrounding representation in media, revealing a community that cloaks hostility in the guise of fandom.
Source: Cosmopolitan
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