Since Disney first announced its cast back in June 2021, the multi-billion dollar powerhouse has faced backlash after backlash for a series of “issues” surrounding its live-action Snow White remake.
From casting choices to fashion mishaps, it seems no facet of the film has been spared from public scrutiny. Even the recent premiere raised eyebrows thanks to one star’s outfit…
As a result, you have probably seen angry comments about various parts of the film floating around the internet. With so much going on, however, we wouldn’t blame you for feeling a little lost as to what exactly happened. Read on for a breakdown of all the controversies surrounding the live-action Snow White remake .
Why Are People Complaining About the New Snow White Movie?
Disney decided against casting actors with dwarfism for Snow White
Disney decided to remake its 1937 animated film without the inclusion of actors with dwarfism.
Acclaimed actor Peter Dinklage—best known for his roles in Game of Thrones and Wicked—shared his views on the choice, expressing in a podcast back in 2022 that he felt it was “backwards.”
“I was a little taken aback by [the fact] they were very proud to cast a Latina actress as Snow White…You’re progressive in one way but you’re still making that f*cking backward story of seven dwarves living in the cave. What the fuck are you doing, man?” Peter said.
Jackass star ‘Wee man’, aka, Jason Acuña stated in an interview with TMZ that they are “replacing jobs” by choosing not to hire actors with dwarfism. “You’re replacing jobs that people could have as little people… It’s for dwarfs. Why are you hiring ‘Snow White and the seven average people’?”
As a result of the backlash, Disney ended up turning to CGI to create the seven characters, instead of recasting and re-shooting with real actors. Speaking to Daily Mail, well known performer Choon Tan said the CGI choice was “absolutely absurd and discriminating in a sense”.
“There really is nothing wrong casting someone with dwarfism as a dwarf in any given opportunity,…As long as we are treated equally and with respect, we’re usually more than happy to take on any acting roles that are suitable for us,” he emphasised.
The Original Casting of Rachel Zegler
In June 2021, Disney broke the news that Rachel Zegler had been chosen to play Snow White.
As a Latina actress, some pontificated that Rachel was the wrong choice for the role as the character is originally described as having “skin as white as snow.”
Rachel graciously responded to the hate in a conversation with Andrew Garfield in Variety’s Actors on Actors series.
She expressed, “You don’t normally see Snow Whites that are of Latin descent…Even though Snow White is really a big deal in Spanish-speaking countries. Blanca Nieves is a huge icon whether you’re talking about the Disney cartoon or just different iterations and the Grimm fairy tale and all the stories that come with it.”
... and Gal Gadot
News Gal Gadot would act opposite Rachel in the role of the Evil Queen was shared in November 2021.
The choice to cast Gal also faced criticism due to her stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict. The actress previously served in the Israel Defence Forces for multiple years.
Gal has been open about her pro-Israel view and posted to Instagram in October 2023 that she “stand[s] with Israel, you should too”.
Gals' Premiere Look
At the recent Snow White premiere, Gal stepped out in a sheer black lace dress detailed with a ruffled miniskirt overtop a longer, floor-length skirt.
Some were quick to comment that while the look would have been fabulous on almost any other occasion, they took issue with her choice to wear it to a Disney event.
A lot of criticism arose after videos of Gal were shared to social media, that show the actress interacting with groups of children and cuddling them in the see-through garment.
Rachel's Press Run
Rachel’s rough go with social media trolls didn’t stop at her casting. The actress—as has been a pattern for young women in Hollywood—has been raked over the coals for comments made in the lead up to the film’s release.
Notably, the young star was mocked online for her views on the original portrayal of Snow White and the prince’s dynamic, after she described the characters’ story as “weird” at the D23 Expo in 2022.
“There’s a big focus on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her…Weird! Weird. So we didn’t do that this time,” she said.
Rachel received backlash at the time as she was accused of trying to make the new film “hyper feminist.”
It’s not just anonymous internet trolls who are having a crack at her, either. Rachel has also been singled out and berated relentlessly by mainstream media outlets. Recently, she was flamed by the NY Post’s Editorial Board in an opinion piece that accused her of leaning “into the woke BS.”
