Rachel Zegler Walks Back ‘Snow White’ Comments After Major Backlash

After going through backlash for calling the unique 1937 animated movie “bizarre” and “extraordinarily dated,” Rachel Zegler is now praising the mission as a dream come true.

“It was the honour of a lifetime. I feel each younger individual goals a couple of cellphone name like that,” she mentioned. “This one is definitely additional particular as an enormous Disney fan.”

Zegler continued to gush over the movie, emphasizing the inventive course she and her co-stars took.

“To get to carry her to life in such a singular means and such a particular means, it’s only a lovely alternative, and I’m very honored,” she mentioned.

Regardless of her earlier criticism of the unique “Snow White,” the “West Facet Story” actress now says the remake serves as a bridge between “a basic and a contemporary age” to introduce the story to a brand new era.

“Her superpower stays her coronary heart, you realize, that’s at all times been the core of this story. That’s at all times been the core of the Disney Firm,” she defined, calling the movie one thing for each kids and the “interior youngster in all of us.”

Zegler’s glowing endorsement of “Snow White” follows months of controversy over her previous remarks in regards to the animated basic. In a 2022 interview with “Extra,” she dismissed the unique movie’s storyline as problematic.

“There’s an enormous deal with her love story with the man who actually stalks her. Bizarre, bizarre. So we didn’t do this this time,” she mentioned on the time, including that the remake takes a “totally different strategy” by eradicating the love story altogether.

She additionally admitted in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that she was “fearful of the unique cartoon” as a toddler and had solely “watched it as soon as.”

Her remarks sparked backlash amongst Disney purists, with many questioning why the actress accepted the position if she had such a low opinion of the unique.

In a current Allure cowl story, the “Snow White” actress revealed how stars like Ariana Grande, Jameela Jamil, and her “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” co-stars Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu have stepped in to uplift her throughout tough instances.

Some of the touching gestures, in response to Zegler, got here from Grande, whom she described as “deeply type.” The “Depraved” star reached out unexpectedly, providing phrases of encouragement throughout a very powerful interval.

“She reached out to me, form of apropos of nothing, and was like, ‘In the event you want something, I’m right here,'” Zegler shared. “She has gone by way of a lot within the public eye, and I’ve at all times actually, actually admired her braveness within the face of all of that.”

Past her “Snow White” feedback, Zegler has additionally confronted criticism for her outspoken political opinions, together with her vocal pro-Palestine activism.

Based on Page Six, Disney executives have allegedly struggled to rein her in.

“She’s an outspoken 20-something, and Disney chiefs have known as her immediately and requested her to tone down her posts,” a supply claimed. “They’ve known as her administration, however she received’t hear.”

Additional fueling hypothesis is the rumored rigidity between Zegler and her “Snow White” co-star Gal Gadot, who performs the Evil Queen. Whereas Zegler has been vocal about her pro-Palestine stance, Gadot is a identified advocate for Israel and the Jewish inhabitants. The 2 have reportedly finished most of their press individually, resulting in hypothesis about behind-the-scenes friction.

Disney’s upcoming “Snow White” live-action remake additionally discovered itself on the heart of controversy over its depiction of the Seven Dwarfs. Actor Peter Dinklage, who has achondroplasia, a type of dwarfism, overtly criticized Disney’s strategy throughout a January 2024 look on the “WTF With Marc Maron” podcast.

“Actually no offense to something, however I used to be kind of stunned,” Dinklage admitted. “They had been very proud to forged a Latino actress as Snow White, however you’re nonetheless telling the story of ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.’ Take a step again and have a look at what you’re doing there.”

The “Recreation of Thrones” star didn’t maintain again, calling Disney’s strategy contradictory. “It is not sensible to me,” he continued. “You’re progressive in a technique, however then you definitely’re nonetheless making that f-cking backwards story about seven dwarfs dwelling in a cave collectively. What the f-ck are you doing, man?”

In response to the backlash, Disney revised its portrayal of the long-lasting characters, choosing “magical creatures” of various sizes and genders quite than the standard dwarfs.

With “Snow White” set to hit theaters this weekend, it stays to be seen whether or not Disney’s live-action remake, and its main woman, can win over audiences.