Behind the Scenes of Disney’s ‘Snow White’: Rachel Zegler’s Battle with Death Threats, Security Upgrades, and Social Media Strategy

On August 12, 2024, Rachel Zegler celebrated a milestone for the trailer of “Snow White.” The teaser had garnered 120 million views within just 24 hours. However, in a follow-up X post, she added a political statement: “and always remember, free Palestine.” This comment quickly went viral, receiving nearly four times the views of her initial post. Inside Disney, the reaction was mixed; executives were taken aback by Zegler’s intertwining of film promotion and politics, leading to serious discussions about her approach.

Zegler’s outspoken nature began to create tension with the studio, especially following her previous comments during the “West Side Story” awards season. After her political commentary regarding the conflict in Israel and Palestine, security concerns reportedly increased for her co-star, Gal Gadot, an Israeli actress, prompting Disney to ramp up security protocols for Gadot.

Insiders noted that Zegler seemed unaware of the consequences her remarks might bring, particularly in light of the film’s financial stakes. A few months later, she took to Instagram to express her disdain for Donald Trump, signaling to much of the film’s audience to stay away. Disney, understandably frustrated, began to take action. After multiple discussions, Zegler started working with a social media consultant provided by Disney to review her posts before the film’s release.

Despite extensive marketing efforts, “Snow White” opened to disappointing numbers, earning just $87 million globally. This was particularly concerning given its massive budget of $270 million. Industry experts were curious about what went wrong. A rival studio executive underscored the financial miscalculation, stating that such a high-budget film should easily gross a billion dollars. Yet it fell significantly short.

The perpetual controversies surrounding Zegler pose a significant challenge for Hollywood, as studios seek to manage the social media presence of their stars. Unlike Zegler, Gadot opted to keep her comments regarding the situation short and focused solely on humanitarian concerns, avoiding any mix-up with film promotion. In contrast, Zegler drew attention to herself by speaking out about being left out of the Oscar nominations, garnering a ticket through public complaints.

Furthermore, during promotional events, Zegler criticized the original “Snow White,” which did not sit well with Disney fans. This sparked backlash, revealing that Disney’s passive approach to Zegler’s words gave her too much freedom to shape the narrative. The studio’s reluctance to confront her arose from a fear of negative publicity, which only intensified in light of previous controversies, such as Gina Carano’s lawsuit against Disney.

Box office analyst Jeff Bock remarked that the “Snow White” situation stands in contrast to the common belief that any publicity is good publicity. The film was marred by years of negative press, which affected audience perceptions. Additionally, the ongoing trends in the box office suggest a downturn for Disney’s live-action films in general, highlighted by recent flops like “Dumbo” and “Peter Pan & Wendy.”

Despite the strain in public perception, sources close to Zegler and Gadot maintain that the actresses got along well during filming. The studio’s decision to separate them during promotional events may have contributed to the illusion of discord. With the backdrop of significant challenges, it seems that Zegler’s outspoken nature and Disney’s handling of the situation played key roles in shaping the film’s fate.

For those interested in the evolving dynamics of celebrity influence and studio management, this case illuminates the tightrope onto which many stars tread in balancing personal views while promoting major cinematic projects.



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Disney,Gal Gadot,Rachel Zegler,Snow White