Sun Mar 30 02:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Disney’s “Snow White” Flops: Social Media Controversy and Star’s Political Statements Cited as Contributing Factors

**LOS ANGELES** – Disney’s live-action remake of “Snow White,” boasting a $270 million budget, opened to a disappointing $87 million worldwide, far below expectations. The film’s underperformance is attributed to a confluence of factors, but the studio’s strained relationship with star Rachel Zegler is emerging as a significant contributing factor.

Zegler’s outspoken social media activity, including pro-Palestinian and anti-Trump posts, sparked controversy and alienated a segment of the potential audience. Her initial “Free Palestine” message, posted after the trailer’s release, garnered significantly more attention than the trailer itself, causing alarm within Disney. This was followed by further inflammatory posts, prompting interventions from producer Marc Platt and Disney executives, eventually culminating in Disney paying for a social media manager to vet Zegler’s posts.

The situation was exacerbated by earlier controversies, including Zegler’s public criticism of the original “Snow White” and her complaints about not being invited to the Oscars for her role in “West Side Story.” These incidents, combined with the social media furor, generated significant negative publicity and fueled a perception of a feud between Zegler and her co-star, Gal Gadot, although sources deny any bad blood between the actresses themselves. Disney’s handling of the situation is also criticized; some believe the studio should have intervened earlier to prevent the escalation of the controversies.

The film’s underwhelming box office performance is further complicated by production issues, including COVID-related delays, a set fire, and an actors’ strike that hampered reshoots. The film also received mixed reviews, contributing to its poor performance.

Industry analysts point to the film’s underperformance as a cautionary tale for studios grappling with the challenges of managing actors’ social media presence and navigating political discourse. While Disney declined to comment, the “Snow White” debacle highlights the potentially devastating impact of online controversies on even the biggest-budget productions. The incident also shines a spotlight on the increasingly shaky box office performance of Disney’s recent live-action remakes.

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