Disney’s live-action Snow White, released on March 15, 2025, was poised to be a triumphant reimagining of the studio’s first-ever animated feature from 1937. With a hefty $270 million budget, a dazzling cast led by Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, and a modernized twist on the classic fairy tale, expectations were sky-high. Yet, just weeks after its debut, the film has become one of Disney’s most notorious flops, raking in a measly $87 million worldwide on opening weekend—far below the projected $100 million—and continuing to plummet in subsequent weeks. Amid this financial disaster, rumors are swirling that Rachel Zegler, the 23-year-old star at the heart of the project, is in a “complete meltdown” over the film’s failure. But is there truth to these claims, or is this just another chapter in the ongoing saga of Snow White’s woes? Let’s unpack the story, blending insider buzz with objective analysis to explore what’s really happening behind the scenes.

The road to Snow White’s release was rocky from the start. Announced in 2016, the project faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reshoots in 2024, and a fire on set that briefly halted production. Casting Zegler, a Latina actress of Colombian descent, as the titular princess sparked immediate controversy, with detractors arguing she didn’t match the “skin as white as snow” description from the Brothers Grimm tale. Zegler’s response—doubling down on a progressive reimagining where Snow White isn’t “saved by a prince” but becomes a leader—only fanned the flames. Her 2022 Extra TV interview, where she called the original prince a “stalker” and the 1937 film “weird,” went viral, alienating fans of the classic. By the time the trailer dropped in August 2024, racking up 120 million views, Zegler’s follow-up X post—“and always remember, free Palestine”—had shifted focus from the film to her politics, drawing ire from conservative audiences and reportedly prompting Disney to intervene.

Gal Gadot’s involvement added another layer of tension. The Israeli actress, a vocal supporter of her home country, clashed ideologically with Zegler’s pro-Palestinian stance. Though neither publicly addressed the other’s views, their differing positions—amplified by the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict—became a lightning rod for online debates. Disney scaled back the film’s premiere to a press-free event at a remote Spanish castle, a move insiders attributed to fears of political questions overshadowing the movie. Meanwhile, creative choices like replacing the seven dwarves with CGI “magical creatures” (after backlash over not casting actors with dwarfism) and a perceived “woke” overhaul of the story further eroded goodwill. By March 2025, Snow White was a cultural battleground, not a fairy tale.

The box office numbers told a brutal story. Opening to $43 million domestically and $87 million globally, the film fell short of even the lowest pre-release estimates of $45–$55 million. For context, 2023’s The Little Mermaid—another Disney remake with a similar $240 million budget—debuted at $95.5 million domestically, while 2019’s Dumbo, considered a disappointment, still managed $45 million. By its second weekend, Snow White’s ticket sales had dropped a staggering 53% or more, with Friday, March 28 earning just $3.7 million—placing it third behind a re-release of Chosen: The Last Supper and the indie drama A Working Man. With a break-even point estimated at $800–850 million globally (factoring in marketing and distribution costs), the film’s current trajectory suggests it might not even hit $200 million worldwide. For Disney, this is a financial catastrophe; for Zegler, it’s a personal and professional blow.

Whispers of Zegler’s “complete meltdown” began circulating on X and YouTube shortly after the opening weekend. A video titled “Rachel Zegler In COMPLETE MELTDOWN Over Snow White’s HUGE Box Office Loss?!” uploaded on March 29, 2025, by a channel called Teatime with Teana, claimed the actress was “devastated” and “lashing out” over the film’s failure. X posts amplified the narrative: @TheMagaHulk wrote, “Rachel Zegler destroyed a billion-dollar franchise,” while @AmiriKing accused her of “selfishly sabotaging a $270m project with her smug attitude.” Others pointed to her political outbursts, like her November 2024 Instagram post after Trump’s re-election—“F*** Donald Trump” and “May Trump supporters never know peace”—as evidence she’d alienated half the audience. But how much of this is fact versus online hyperbole?

Publicly, Zegler has maintained a defiant front. On opening day, she posted on Instagram: “#1 MOVIE IN THE WORLD,” with an apple emoji and a photo of herself in costume, celebrating the film’s chart-topping (albeit underwhelming) debut. Days later, she shared a heartfelt tribute to the cast and crew, calling the experience “life-changing”—notably omitting Gadot from the photos. There’s no evidence of tears, tirades, or a breakdown in her curated social media presence. Yet insiders paint a different picture. A source close to production told Variety that Zegler was “shocked” by the numbers and felt “blindsided” by the backlash, having believed her vision for a bold, empowered Snow White would resonate. Another claimed she’d clashed with Disney execs over their attempts to muzzle her online, fueling her frustration.

The meltdown rumors gained traction when Jonah Platt, son of producer Marc Platt, posted (then deleted) an Instagram comment blaming Zegler’s “immature” politics for the flop. “She hijacked the conversation at the risk of all the colleagues and crew,” he wrote, per screenshots. The backlash was swift—Zegler’s fans defended her fiercely, trending her name on X with praise like “Rachel Zegler RULES” from critic David Ehrlich. Still, the narrative stuck: Zegler as the scapegoat for Snow White’s demise. Disney, meanwhile, stayed silent, though reports suggest execs are privately furious, with one anonymous source telling Vulture, “Rachel should not be playing Snow White”—a jab at both her casting and her PR missteps.

Is Zegler truly unraveling, though? Her career arc offers clues. Before Snow White, she starred in three films with mixed financial success: West Side Story (2021) earned $76 million against a $100 million budget, Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) made $134 million on $125 million, and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) grossed $349 million on $100 million—profitable, but the franchise’s lowest earner. Critics lauded her performances, yet none were box office smashes. Snow White was meant to be her breakout, cementing her as a leading lady. Instead, it’s her biggest disappointment yet, and the pressure—compounded by years of online vitriol—could understandably rattle a young star. Still, “meltdown” implies a public collapse, and Zegler’s composure suggests resilience, not despair.

The film’s failure isn’t solely her burden. Gadot’s wooden Evil Queen drew scathing reviews—Variety called it “one-note”—and the film’s 41% Rotten Tomatoes score reflects broader issues: clumsy CGI, a muddled script, and a tone that pleased neither purists nor progressives. Disney’s live-action remake fatigue, evident in Dumbo and Pinocchio’s lukewarm reception, likely played a role too. Zegler’s outspokenness may have hurt ticket sales—polls show 37% of family film audiences hail from red states, per EnTelligence—but pinning a $270 million flop on one actress ignores systemic missteps. Her Trump comments and Palestine stance alienated some, sure, but The Little Mermaid weathered similar “woke” critiques and still doubled Snow White’s opening.

So, is Rachel Zegler in a “complete meltdown”? The evidence is thin—more online speculation than verified breakdown. She’s likely reeling privately; who wouldn’t be after such a high-profile stumble? But her public defiance and fan support suggest she’s weathering the storm. For Disney, Snow White is a grim reminder that nostalgia alone can’t guarantee success in a polarized, post-pandemic market. For Zegler, it’s a harsh lesson in Hollywood’s unforgiving spotlight—but not the end. Rumors of MCU talks hint at a comeback. The glass slipper may have shattered, but this princess isn’t down for the count—meltdown or not.