The animated Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs has remained as Disney’s most well-known and popular movie since its release in 1937. However, Disney’s release of the live-action remake of Snow White has received a lot of criticism from fans and critics. Much of the controversy stems from the political views, the casted actors, and the overall production of the film. This movie is considered a box office flop, resulting in a loss of over $115 million for numerous reasons.
To begin with, Snow White’s casting created a lot of backlash and complaints from the public. The casting of Rachel Zegler, a Colombian actress, as Snow White prompted much racist backlash. Snow White is a character known for having “skin as white as snow,” so a Latina woman with olive skin tone playing this role sparked lots of controversy. While many support this decision as a progressive step towards inclusivity, others were disappointed and upset about the inaccuracy to the original fairy tale. Another similar situation similar to this was the casting of Halle Bailey, an African-American actress, as Ariel in The Little Mermaid, which sparked significant backlash due to the character traditionally being portrayed as white with red hair. Joyce Rutherford (10), an avid enjoyer of Disney movies, shares her opinions, “Some of the public’s criticism is valid because I love the original animated movies, but I also believe it’s important for Disney to remain inclusive and diverse.” Although Disney’s inclusion of different ethnicities in their movies is important, it overall seems like fans are upset because the live-actions are not visually accurate to the original fairy tales.
Part of the reason Snow White is not performing so well in theatres is due to the controversial actress, Rachel Zegler. She publicly criticized the original film and spoke out about her political views. During an interview, fans questioned Rachel’s appreciation for the role she was given. She criticized and made comments such as that the original Snow White has a “big focus on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. Weird! WEIRD” (time.com). She also criticizes Prince Charming and the idea of a woman being saved by a man. By some, her remarks are seen as disrespectful and a misrepresentation of the original film. Alongside her comments on the movie, she publicly shared her political view on the Israel-Hamas War, saying, “and always remember, free Palestine” (variety.com). People complained that it was inappropriate and that she took advantage of her platform, which ultimately created a lot of problems for Disney. Not only are Snow White and the Evil Queen in a dispute in the movie, but also in real life, in terms of political views. The Evil Queen, Gal Gadot, who used to serve in the Israel Defense Force, is pro-Israel, while Rachel Zegler is pro-Palestine. Their interactions at award ceremonies are closely followed by fans, and all are wondering what happens behind the scenes.
The casting and the whole idea of doing a ‘Snow White’ movie in 2025 is highly controversial as well. Many think the movie is ableist and politically incorrect in today’s world for portraying dwarfs as less intelligent and physically disadvantaged. As a response, Disney decided to use CGI for the dwarves. However, this decision created backlash from members of the dwarfism community. They felt that this decision took away a rare acting opportunity from them. Addie Kopiczko (10) agrees with them, sharing, “This occasion could have been really beneficial for aspiring actors with dwarfism because not many opportunities require their small stature.” Ultimately, both parties are upset and disappointed.
