Media Shifts Snow White Blame to Fans and Gal Gadot, Not Rachel Zegler

As a devoted admirer, I’ve been following the ongoing debate surrounding Disney’s timeless classic, Snow White. For years, this film has faced criticism, yet recently, there seems to be an intense effort among mainstream media outlets to divert blame from Disney’s creative missteps and Rachel Zegler’s stumbles, instead casting it upon the fans and even Gal Gadot. I believe the focus should rightfully remain on Disney for their questionable decisions and Ms. Zegler for her repeated mishaps in the role.

An article published in The Hollywood Reporter recognizes the marketing challenges faced by the movie and ongoing criticism, but instead of placing blame on Zegler for driving audiences away, it proposes that responsibility for the situation with Snow White should be shared among those involved in culture war debates, Gal Gadot’s support for Israel, and alleged misinformation about the film’s production process.

After the release, the report was adjusted to minimize Disney’s awkward reversal in the Seven Dwarfs controversy, sparking significant concerns about the extent of the studio’s control over the media portrayal of this movie’s coverage.

Shifting the Snow White Blame Away From Zegler

Rachel Zegler’s remarks regarding the original “Snow White” have faced criticism since their initial release. She criticized the film for its outdated portrayal of women in positions of power, labeling it as such. Moreover, she jokingly characterized the Prince as a stalker, and expressed pride that the remake would be more progressive, stating it was necessary to make it more politically correct (PC).

In a 2022 interview with ExtraTV, she remarked, “People have been joking about our version of ‘Snow White’ being the ‘Politically Correct Snow White.’ And, well, they’re right—because it had to be.

These comments promptly drew strong criticism, as numerous fans believed she was disparaging the cherished memory of one of Disney’s most adored movies.

As a movie critic, I must admit that I found myself grappling with Zegler’s performance in Snow White due to her past actions. Her political rhetoric has stirred controversy, with a post-election statement causing particular unrest. In this declaration, she expressed that Trump supporters, voters, and the man himself should never know peace. Though she later apologized for her words, the harm had already been inflicted. Her openly antagonistic stance towards a substantial portion of the audience made Snow White’s success an uphill battle.

Furthermore, she employed a promotional message linked to the controversial “Snow White” trailer (with many disapprovals) as a platform to express her support for Palestine in the ongoing Middle Eastern dispute, thereby connecting her political views with this movie.

Although The Hollywood Reporter barely discusses Zegler’s disputes, it portrays the Snow White backlash as mere “culture war attacks” from people who were allegedly predisposed to dislike the film. This overlooks the fact that a significant portion of the criticism originates from Zegler’s own statements and Disney’s questionable efforts to update a timeless tale in ways that viewers didn’t request or seem to appreciate.

Dragging Gal Gadot Into the Controversy

Despite Zegler receiving much criticism, THR oddly suggests that some responsibility for the Snow White controversy might also lie with Gal Gadot. This move seems reminiscent of media coordination, as Variety’s Marc Malkin made a comparable argument just the day before.

Unlike Zegler, who has deliberately created tension with fans, Gadot’s supposed controversies stem from her open declaration of being a proud Jewish woman and expressing solidarity with her home nation, Israel, during an award ceremony by the Anti-Defamation League.

The piece mentions that controversy surrounds Gadot because of her pro-Israel statements, and it also brings up an unfounded claim that she declined to present an Oscar to a Palestinian film, although her team verified no such request was ever made. However, despite this, the article about Snow White‘s challenges seems to hint at Gadot’s involvement in the movie’s PR predicament—yet it is important to note that she has taken no actions aimed at offending viewers or belittling the story’s source.

This effort appears to be an attempt to divert focus from Zegler’s actions and instead blame a politically acceptable fall guy or girl. While Zegler has deliberately distanced fans through her behavior, Gadot is merely standing by her convictions without linking them directly to the film as Zegler has done.

Yet the media is treating both women as if they’re equally controversial.

The Mysterious THR Edit—Disney Rewriting History?

It’s not just the content of THR‘s article that sheds light on the situation, but rather the changes made to it after publication. The alterations seem to have minimized Disney’s handling of the Seven Dwarfs controversy, suggesting they may have mismanaged it.

Initially, the article disclosed that Disney had initially chosen a multicultural cast of actors with different body types and genders for the Seven Dwarfs, which drew ridicule when images from the set were released. The piece also mentioned that Disney switched to using computer-generated dwarfs after facing criticism.

Initially, it was stated that reports concerning the Seven Dwarfs being real in the film were false, and director Marc Webb had intended for them to be CGI since the beginning. This alteration provokes doubts about whether THR was influenced by Disney to revise history and eliminate any trace of their earlier change of direction. If Webb had always conceived CGI dwarfs, why were there photos of the set with real dwarfs? Why did Disney modify things after facing criticism?

The attempt to rewrite the narrative is painfully obvious, and it shows just how desperate Disney is to distance itself from past mistakes.

Disney’s Unusual Marketing Strategy—Or Lack of One

Instead of the usual fanfare, Disney has surprisingly kept a low profile when it comes to promoting the classic tale of Snow White. Unlike their previous live-action remakes that started marketing months ahead, this one only recently made ticket sales available, just weeks before its release date.

Experts in the field have observed an uncommon approach towards the production of “Snow White,” with one participant expressing, “They seem to be just going through the motions, implying ‘we need to wrap up this project as soon as possible.’

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve noticed an interesting twist in the world of Disney premieres. Unlike usual events where press can ask questions on the red carpet, they’ve decided to clamp down hard on this one, keeping it more private than a secret screening of a controversial film like “The Flash” with Ezra Miller. The difference is that Miller found himself embroiled in actual legal issues, whereas for Zegler, the controversy seems to stem entirely from her own spoken words.

Media Spin Won’t Save Snow White

The media’s approach towards the controversy surrounding the casting of Rachel Zegler in the upcoming live-action remake of “Snow White” has been questionable. Instead of acknowledging and addressing the concerns about Zegler’s casting head-on, they are trying to shift the blame onto fans who have voiced their opinions. Furthermore, they are unjustifiably bringing Gal Gadot into the discussion, even though she is not directly involved in the project. Meanwhile, Disney is attempting to rewrite history and downplay its own mistakes in an attempt to divert attention away from the controversy.

However, the public isn’t accepting it favorably. The criticism towards “Snow White” didn’t just happen spontaneously—it was accumulated through unfortunate creative choices, disregard for the original storyline, and a lead actress who intentionally offended the fanbase. No amount of positive publicity or rebranding can alter that reality.

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2025-03-12 21:58