In a fiery confrontation that has set the media world alight, Megyn Kelly, the veteran journalist and conservative firebrand, unleashed a blistering takedown of actress Rachel Zegler over her starring role in Disney’s beleaguered Snow White live-action remake on March 26, 2025. During a heated segment on The Megyn Kelly Show, the 54-year-old host tore into Zegler with a mix of biting sarcasm and unapologetic critique, branding the film a “disaster” and the 23-year-old star its misguided poster child. The clash, which quickly went viral, has reignited the culture war surrounding the movie, pitting Kelly’s no-holds-barred style against Zegler’s progressive persona in a showdown that’s left the nation buzzing. Did Kelly truly “destroy” Zegler, or is this another salvo in the battle over Hollywood’s soul?
The drama erupted on Kelly’s SiriusXM podcast, where she dedicated a full 20-minute segment to dissecting what she called “the slow-motion car crash that is Disney’s Snow White.” Known for her sharp tongue and fearless takes, Kelly didn’t mince words as she zeroed in on Zegler, who’s faced mounting scrutiny since her 2021 casting as the iconic princess. “Rachel Zegler has taken a beloved classic and turned it into a woke sermon no one asked for,” Kelly began, her voice laced with indignation. “She’s out there trashing the original Snow White like it’s some sexist relic, acting like she’s the first woman to discover ambition. Honey, it’s a fairy tale—sit down.”
Kelly’s attack was sparked by Zegler’s past comments, particularly a 2022 Variety interview where she dismissed the 1937 animated classic’s prince as a “stalker” and promised a Snow White who “won’t be dreaming about true love” but will instead “dream about becoming the leader she knows she can be.” To Kelly, this was blasphemy against a cultural touchstone. “This isn’t empowerment—it’s arrogance,” she fumed. “The original Snow White was about kindness, resilience, and yes, romance. Zegler’s version sounds like a TED Talk with dwarves—sorry, ‘magical creatures,’ because apparently even the dwarves offended someone.”
The host didn’t stop at Zegler’s vision. She mocked the actress’s “smug sanctimony,” playing clips of Zegler’s interviews and punctuating them with barbs. “Listen to her—‘Oh, the old story’s so weird.’ Weird? It’s a masterpiece that’s lasted 87 years,” Kelly said, referencing the 1937 film’s status as Disney’s first animated feature and a global icon. “You don’t get to waltz in, trash it, and expect us to clap like trained seals. This is what happens when you give a 23-year-old a $200 million budget and a megaphone—she thinks she’s reinventing the wheel instead of just riding it.”
The segment went viral within hours, with clips flooding X and YouTube under titles like “Megyn Kelly DESTROYS Rachel Zegler Over Snow White DISASTER?!” Fans of Kelly—whose audience spans conservative stalwarts and culture-war enthusiasts—hailed it as a knockout. “Megyn just ended Zegler’s whole vibe,” posted @PatriotVoiceUSA, while a YouTube commenter wrote, “Kelly’s savage—Rachel’s Snow White is toast.” The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro, who’d skewered Zegler days earlier, tweeted, “Megyn brought the hammer where I left off—Disney’s woke mess is officially exposed.”
Zegler’s role in Snow White, set for release on March 21, 2025, has been a lightning rod since day one. Her Latina heritage—proudly Colombian-Polish—clashed with the character’s “snow white” descriptor, sparking accusations of “race-swapping” from traditionalists like Kelly, who quipped, “I’m all for diversity, but Snow White’s not a diversity hire—she’s a specific character.” Add Zegler’s feminist reimagining, Disney’s decision to replace the seven dwarves with CGI “magical creatures” after Peter Dinklage’s critique, and a trailer that’s racked up over a million dislikes, and the film’s a cultural powder keg—perfect fodder for Kelly’s ire.
Kelly leaned hard into the disaster narrative. She cited the film’s dismal pre-release buzz—47% on Rotten Tomatoes based on early screenings—and mocked Disney’s PR struggles, noting a scaled-back premiere and rumors of reshoots. “This thing’s a $200 million flop in the making, and Zegler’s the face of it,” she said. “She’s out there acting like she’s Gloria Steinem in a ball gown, but audiences aren’t buying it. They want Snow White, not Snow CEO.” She even jabbed at co-star Gal Gadot’s Evil Queen, sneering, “Gal’s probably wondering how she got roped into this mess—someone get Wonder Woman a lifeboat.”
The “destruction” label took hold online, fueled by Kelly’s signature blend of outrage and humor. She mimicked Zegler’s voice—“‘Oh, I’m gonna lead!’”—before deadpanning, “Lead what? The box office to bankruptcy?” The studio laughed as she riffed on the dwarves’ replacement: “They’ve got one dwarf and six randoms—sounds like a diversity quota gone rogue. Where’s Sleepy? Probably napping through this nonsense.” X posts like “Megyn Kelly just buried Rachel Zegler—Snow White’s done” trended alongside clips, amplifying the narrative that Kelly had landed a fatal blow.
Zegler’s camp pushed back, albeit quietly. A source close to the actress told People that she’s “focused on the film, not the noise,” framing Kelly’s attack as “predictable outrage bait.” Fans on X rallied with “#IStandWithRachel,” citing her West Side Story Golden Globe and arguing, “Megyn’s just mad a Latina’s shining—Rachel’s Snow White is for us.” Zegler herself stayed silent, a shift from her past defiance—like her “free Palestine” X post amid 2024 trailer backlash—but her October Variety clarification that love remains “integral” to the story suggests she’s weathering the storm with nuance Kelly ignored.
Did Kelly “destroy” Zegler? Not literally—Zegler’s career, buoyed by Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, isn’t teetering. But Kelly’s tirade landed punches, amplifying the film’s woes and painting Zegler as a symbol of Hollywood’s “woke overreach.” “She’s not wrong—this remake’s a mess,” admitted a neutral X user, reflecting a broader sentiment that Snow White’s PR is a disaster, even if Zegler’s talent isn’t. Kelly’s fans see it as a rout; one YouTube commenter gushed, “Megyn’s the queen of calling out BS—Rachel’s toast.”
The clash reflects Kelly’s evolution. Once a Fox News anchor, she’s thrived since going independent in 2017, building a loyal SiriusXM base with unfiltered takes—whether sparring with Trump in 2015 or dismantling progressive icons like Meghan Markle. Zegler’s Snow White was ripe for her crosshairs: a Disney darling turned cultural flashpoint, perfect for Kelly’s blend of nostalgia and disdain. “I grew up on Snow White—my kids deserve her too, not this,” she said, tapping a personal vein that resonated with parents wary of “woke” remakes.
Disney’s in damage control, with insiders hinting at last-minute edits to soften Zegler’s “leader” arc—a move Kelly would likely claim as a win. The film’s $45-55 million opening weekend projection lags behind Cinderella or Beauty and the Beast, suggesting her noise might sway ticket sales. Conservatives like Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh, pushing their rival Snow White and the Evil Queen, cheered Kelly on, with Walsh tweeting, “Megyn’s right—Disney’s version is a corpse.”
Progressives, meanwhile, see bullying. “Kelly’s picking on a kid to stay relevant,” one X user fumed, noting Zegler’s youth versus Kelly’s decades in media. Others defend the remake’s intent: “Rachel’s bringing Snow White to a new generation—Megyn’s stuck in 1937.” The divide mirrors Trump’s America in 2025—nostalgia versus progress, with Kelly as the former’s loudest megaphone.
The “disaster” tag sticks more to perception than reality—Snow White’s fate hinges on audiences, not Kelly’s mic. Zegler’s still standing, her silence a shield as Kelly swings. But the damage to the film’s rollout is palpable, and Kelly’s reveling in it. “They thought they could woke-ify a classic and we’d cheer,” she closed. “Not today.” Whether destruction or distraction, her takedown’s a viral hit—and the nation’s hooked on the fallout. Zegler’s got the premiere; Kelly’s got the headlines. Who wins? Box office receipts—and time—will tell.
