“I just wasn’t functioning"—Rachel Zegler reveals how she dealt with Snow White backlash

Rachel Zegler opened up about the emotional toll she experienced following the backlash to Disney’s Snow White remake, telling i-D Magazine that the criticism didn’t completely break her, but it came close.

“My f***ing psychiatrist has seen me through all of it,” Zegler admitted, reflecting on how therapy became a lifeline during that period.

She recalled a pivotal moment in treatment when someone finally told her,

“What you’re going through isn’t normal. That sentence did such wonders for me in multiple situations in my life.”

Rachel Zegler explained that the validation marked a turning point.

“Which was truly a game changer, because I just wasn’t functioning. And I wanted to function in a way that made me feel confident in the way I was moving through the world.”

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Why Rachel Zegler faced Snow White backlash and how she’s choosing to move forward

When Rachel Zegler landed the lead in Disney’s Snow White remake in 2021, it was a moment that seemed destined to elevate her to new heights. But by the time the film debuted, the conversation had shifted dramatically.

After comments made during the 2022 D23 Expo, where she described the original 1937 film as “dated” and critiqued the prince for having “literally stalked” Snow White, online criticism grew swift and harsh. Though she later softened her remarks, the damage had lingered.

Once the movie underperformed, Zegler found herself at the center of blame, absorbing much of the public backlash, even as industry observers pointed to deeper creative and production issues.

Zegler shared her perspective and process on dealing with online attention. She stated,

“I think a victim mindset is a choice, and I don’t choose it. I also don’t choose nastiness in the face of it. I don’t choose negativity in the face of it. I choose positivity and light and happiness. And I do believe at times, happiness is absolutely a choice, and every day I wake up and I think I’m very lucky to live the life I live.”

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Why Rachel Zegler’s Palestine comment sparked backlash from Disney’s Snow White team

Snow White’s off-screen drama extended beyond Disney press tours and social media backlash. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Rachel Zegler’s public support for Palestine during the film’s promotional cycle sparked behind-the-scenes tensions, most notably with producer Marc Platt.

Platt reportedly traveled to New York at Disney’s request to confront Rachel Zegler over a post on X in which she thanked fans for watching the trailer and added “Free Palestine.” The move didn’t sit well with some Disney decision-makers, who saw it as a distraction from the film’s marketing push.

The tension went public when Variety reported on the incident, prompting a wave of criticism online. One Instagram user called Platt “creepy as hell” for stepping in to control Zegler’s political expression. That’s when Jonah Platt, Marc’s son and host of the Being Jewish podcast, stepped in to defend his father.

In a now-deleted Instagram reply, Jonah wrote:

“You really want to do this? Yeah, my dad, the producer of enormous piece of Disney IP with hundreds of millions of dollars on the line, had to leave his family to fly across the country to reprimand his 20 year old employee for dragging her personal politics into the middle of promoting the movie for which she signed a multi-million dollar contract to get paid and do publicity for.”

Jonah Platt continued:

“This is called adult responsibility and accountability. And her actions clearly hurt the film’s box office. Free speech does not mean you’re allowed to say whatever you want in your private employment without repercussions. Tens of thousands of people worked on that film and she hijacked the conversation for her own immature desires at the risk of all the colleagues and crew and blue collar workers who depend on that movie to be successful. Narcissism is not something to be coddled or encouraged.”

Disney’s live-action Snow White remake fell short of box office expectations, debuting to an estimated $43 million domestically.

Globally, the $270 million reimagining of the 1937 animated classic was projected to surpass $100 million during its opening weekend, but ultimately pulled in just $87.3 million.