Rachel Zegler’s tweet stirred up so much drama that Disney had to increase security for Gal Gadot before Snow White’s release.

Disney’s Snow White remake has been making headlines, but not exactly for the right reasons. From its sky-high budget to the motion-capture dwarfs, controversy has followed this film from the start. However, what really grabbed people’s attention was the reported tension between its two stars, Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, over their differing views on the Gaza War.

Rachel Zegler as Snow White in Disney’s Snow White | Credits: © 2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Things escalated when Zegler posted “Free Palestine” on X just as the film’s trailer dropped in August 2024, reportedly leading Disney to ramp up security for Gadot. Here is what really happened!

Rachel Zegler’s post made things difficult for her Snow White co-star Gal Gadot!

It all started in August 2024 when Rachel Zegler posted “Free Palestine” on X just as the film’s trailer debuted. The post quickly went viral, racking up 8.9 million views and sparking a wave of reactions, some supporting Zegler, others opposing Gal Gadot, who is Israeli.

According to Variety, the controversy grew to the point that producer Marc Platt personally traveled to New York to speak with Zegler about the post, urging her to reconsider. She reportedly refused to remove it, and the situation only intensified when Gadot began receiving threats. Disney responded by increasing security for Gadot, covering the costs to ensure her safety.

Gal Gadot in Snow White / Credits: Walt Disney Studios

Meanwhile, Gadot stood firm in her stance, having previously expressed strong support for Israel after the Hamas attack on the Nova Music Festival in October 2023. The divide between the two actresses, amplified by media attention, only fueled further controversy around the film. By the time the premiere arrived, Variety reported that Disney had essentially “given up hope” that Snow White could overcome the backlash.

Is Snow White any good?

Disney’s Snow White is off to a rough start, both with critics and at the box office. While it managed a 74% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, critics weren’t as kind, slapping it with a disappointing 42%.

And despite a global opening of $87 million ($43 million domestically), those numbers put it dangerously close to being one of Disney’s worst-performing live-action remakes ever.

Rachel Zegler celebrates Snow White’s debut | Credits: Disney

Reviews haven’t helped, either. While Rachel Zegler’s performance and singing are being praised, everything else, from Gal Gadot’s villain portrayal to the script, direction, and those nightmare-inducing CGI dwarves, has been widely criticized. Even Snow White and the Huntsman, an unconventional take on the fairy tale, had a stronger debut.

So, is Snow White any good? For a die-hard Disney fan, maybe. But for most, it seems this remake is mediocre at best.

Snow White is now playing in theaters.